MLB Player News
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Records second steal
Torkelson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the White Sox.
Torkelson accounted for two of the Tigers' nine baserunners. Since May 16, the first baseman has gone 15-for-58 (.259) with a 13:18 BB:K. It's a slight improvement on his .239/.322/.363 slash line and 10 percent walk rate for the season. He's added four home runs, two steals, 24 RBI and 22 runs scored through 54 contests in a near-everyday role.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Returns to lineup
Rizzo (neck) is hitting third and playing first base versus the Dodgers on Friday.
Rizzo missed missed three consecutive games while dealing with his neck issues, but the veteran first baseman is back in the middle of the lineup to begin the three-game set against the Dodgers. Jake Bauers retreats to the bench with Rizzo back in the fold.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: On bench Friday
Mountcastle is not in the starting lineup Friday at San Francisco.
Ryan O'Hearn will take a turn at first base and bat seventh versus the Giants and right-hander Logan Webb. Mountcastle carries an ugly .233 batting average and .269 on-base percentage through 56 games (245 plate appearances) this year, though he has managed to tally 11 home runs and 38 RBI.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Guardians' Josh Naylor: Back in lineup Friday
Naylor (wrist) is starting at first base Friday against the Twins, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Naylor was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to a sore wrist, but the problem seems to have subsided. He'll bat fourth and look to continue his hot stretch at the plate -- he's slashing .385/.439/.750 over the last three weeks.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Guardians' Josh Bell: Placed on paternity list
The Guardians placed Bell on the paternity list Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Bell is allowed to spend a maximum of three days on the paternity list while he tends to far more important matters. Brayan Rocchio was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take Bell's place, and David Fry and Gabriel Arias figure to see more time at first base while Bell is out.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Guardians' Josh Naylor: Scratched with sore wrist
Naylor was scratched from the lineup Thursday versus the Twins due to a sore wrist, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Naylor jammed his wrist while sliding into third base Wednesday against the Orioles, a bit of fallout from what was a four-hit, six-RBI performance for the 25-year-old slugger. Josh Bell is now in the DH spot for the Guardians on Thursday and Gabriel Arias will enter the lineup at first base. Naylor is likely day-to-day.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Guardians' Josh Bell: Pops fourth homer
Bell went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and three strikeouts in Wednesday's 12-8 win over the Orioles.
Bell has hit safely in 12 of his last 16 games, but he's batting just .236 with three extra-base hits over that span. Wednesday marked his third straight game with an RBI. The first baseman owns a .224/.330/.350 slash line with four homers, 25 RBI, eight runs scored and 11 doubles through 52 contests. While he hasn't been immune from the Guardians' team-wide hitting problems, he remains in a fairly consistent role between first base and designated hitter.
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Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE
Yankees' Kole Calhoun: Exercising opt-out clause
Calhoun has exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract with the Yankees, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Calhoun is not yet a free agent, as the Yanks have 48 hours to add him to the roster or release him. Given that they are bringing Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring), Josh Donaldson (hamstring) and Tommy Kahnle (biceps) all back from the injured list Friday, it's difficult to see them finding a fit for Calhoun. Morosi notes that Calhoun has made a swing change while at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and has produced a .963 OPS with four homers in 21 games.
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Xavier Isaac 1B | TB
Rays' Xavier Isaac: Dialed in for RiverDogs
Isaac slashed .289/.449/.605 with three home runs and five strikeouts in 12 May games for Single-A Charleston.
The Rays selected Isaac out of high school with the 29th overall pick in last year's draft because of his bat. The 6-foot-3 lefty-hitting first baseman has 70-grade raw power, and the early returns on his hit tool are very encouraging. In May, he had a 10.2 percent strikeout rate and 20.4 percent walk rate, and his 1.25 BB/K is the fifth-best mark in the Carolina League. He missed two weeks in the middle of the month with an undisclosed injury and never landed on the injured list.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Swats fourth home run
Arias went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 12-8 win over the Orioles.
Since mid-May, Arias has gotten semi-regular at-bats while playing multiple different positions, but he's slashing just .198/.298/.385 across 40 games (104 plate appearances). He's started just 28 games this year but is still tied with Josh Bell for the third-most home runs on the team (four). Despite the poor overall numbers, the Guardians will likely continue to find ways to get Arias' bat in the lineup, at least against lefties.