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  • Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH

    Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Homers off bench in win

    Kurtz hit a two-run home run in his lone at-bat in Monday's 8-3 win over the Tigers.

    Kurtz was on the bench to begin this game against tough southpaw Tarik Skubal. Prior to Monday, Kurtz had gone 0-for-10 with two walks and four strikeouts over three games versus the Mariners. He was able to make an impact when he entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, providing the Athletics' last runs of the game. The rookie first baseman is up to 27 long balls, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, two stolen bases and a .308/398/.640 slash line through 91 contests this season, with his homer Monday being the 100th hit of his big-league career.

  • Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX

    Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Sitting after three straight starts

    Duran is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

    Duran will head to the bench for the series opener, but he had started in each of the last three contests and should be in store for an uptick in playing time after Marcus Semien (foot) was deactivated Saturday with a likely season-ending injury. Josh Smith will cover second base Monday, but if the Rangers prefer to use the versatile Smith in the outfield while Evan Carter (wrist) is on the shelf, Duran could have a fairly clear path to making regular starts at the keystone.

  • Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA

    Angels' Niko Kavadas: Filling in for injured Schanuel

    Kavadas will start at first base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rangers.

    Kavadas will remain in the lineup for a second straight game and could see the bulk of the starts at first base against right-handed pitching after the Angels placed Nolan Schanuel (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Sunday. Over his 114 career plate appearances in the majors, Kavadas owns an unremarkable .180/.281/.320 slash line and a monstrous 38.6 percent strikeout rate, but the 26-year-old had displayed excellent pop at Triple-A Salt Lake this season (23 home runs in 105 games).

  • Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH

    Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Getting day off Monday

    Kurtz is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Tigers.

    It's a routine day off for Kurtz, who went hitless during a series in Seattle this past weekend. Brett Harris is starting at first base and batting seventh in Kurtz's stead.

  • Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS

    Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Back in short side of platoon

    Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

    Gonzalez appeared to briefly displace Abraham Toro on the depth chart at first base about a week ago, and even though Toro has since been outrighted to Triple-A Worcester, the Red Sox's recent signing of Nathaniel Lowe appears to have prevented Gonzalez from settling into an everyday role. The 28-year-old will hit the bench for the Red Sox's third straight matchup versus a righty starter (Tomoyuki Sugano) and looks as though he'll be limited to the short side of a platoon with Lowe for the foreseeable future.

  • Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Back in Toronto lineup

    Guerrero (hamstring) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Monday's game versus the Twins.

    Guerrero made a pinch-hitting appearance during Sunday's loss to Miami, but he'll be making his first start in a week as he comes back from left hamstring inflammation. The Blue Jays will ease him back into action at DH, while Ty France stays in the starting nine at first base.

  • Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes deep again Sunday

    Torkelson went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 10-8 loss to the Royals.

    Torkelson launched his 28th home run of the season and second in as many days in the seventh inning. The Detroit first baseman is closing in on his career high of 31 home runs, which he tallied in 159 games back in 2023. He's recorded his 28 long balls this year in just 126 games, giving Torkelson a good chance at setting a new highwater mark if he stays healthy.

  • Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX

    Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Slugs 15th long ball

    Tellez went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and two walks in Sunday's 5-0 victory over Cleveland.

    The Texas first baseman went deep for the second consecutive game with a 426-foot, two-run shot off Guardians starter Gavin Williams in the fourth. Since joining the Rangers on July 18, Tellez has been a surprisingly dependable bat, hitting .283 with four long balls, 13 RBI and eight runs scored across 25 contests while playing in a strong-side platoon role. Through 253 total plate appearances, the 30-year-old is slashing .227/.277/.459 with 40 RBI and 28 runs scored with Texas and Seattle.

  • Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Makes cameo as pinch hitter

    Guerrero (hamstring) made a pinch-hit appearance in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Marlins, popping out in his lone at-bat in the eighth inning.

    After not appearing in any of the Blue Jays' previous four games due to left hamstring inflammation, Guerrero was summoned from the bench in a high-leverage spot, stepping into the batter's box with two outs and two runners on base with Toronto down two runs. Though he wasn't able to come through in the clutch, Guerrero's usage Sunday offers hope that he'll be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. Guerrero may not be ready to play first base right away, but the Blue Jays could deploy him at designated hitter in Monday's series opener versus the Twins.

  • Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA

    Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Dealing with bone bruise

    Schanuel is dealing with a bone bruise on his left wrist, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

    Schanuel was placed on the 10-day injured list with what was originally described as a left wrist contusion Sunday. The 23-year-old clarified that it is a bone bruise and that he intends on missing the minimum 10 days. The injury originated Aug. 11, when Schanuel was struck in the left wrist by Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and it sounds like there's confidence he'll be able to return to full health after some time away.

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