MLB Player News
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Smacks sixth home run
Horwitz went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored Friday against the Rockies.
Horwitz smacked an RBI double in the second inning and followed that up with his fifth home run of the season four frames later. He hasn't hit for much power this season, as he has a .132 ISO across 303 plate appearances, but Horwitz now has four extra-base hits across his last five starts. Horwitz is putting together a respectable second half, as he's hitting .300 with four homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored across 31 games since the All-Star break.
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Jake Bauers 1B | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Back from injured list
The Brewers activated Bauers (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Bauers has been sidelined since just after the All-Star break with a left shoulder impingement but is ready to go after homering three times in five rehab games. The 29-year-old will likely operate primarily as a reserve bat.
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Warming Bernabel 1B | COL
Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Remains out of lineup
Bernabel (face) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Pittsburgh.
Bernabel had to be scratched from Thursday's lineup versus the Dodgers after being struck in the face with a throw during pregame infield drills. His removal from the lineup that day was deemed precautionary, but Colorado will hold him out for at least one additional start. Orlando Arcia will cover first base in Bernabel's stead.
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Willson Contreras 1B | STL
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Lifts 18th homer
Contreras went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Rays.
Contreras went deep in the seventh inning for his second homer in as many games. The 33-year-old has bounced back well after missing time with a bruised right foot, going 7-for-18 (.389) over four contests since he returned to the lineup. On the year, he has a .261/.345/.455 slash line with 18 homers, 68 RBI, 60 runs scored, four stolen bases and 29 doubles over 118 games.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Homers, extends hitting streak
Freeman went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 9-5 win over Colorado.
The All-Star first baseman extended his hitting streak to six games Thursday, and the homer was his 16th of the year. Freeman slumped a bit back in June and the early part of July, but he's found his groove at the plate over the past month or so. Across his last 33 games (143 plate appearances), Freeman is slashing .323/.399/.540 with six round trippers, nine doubles, 25 RBI and 19 runs scored.
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Warming Bernabel 1B | COL
Rockies' Warming Bernabel: Scratched from lineup
Bernabel was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Dodgers after being struck in the face with a throw during pregame infield drills.
The Rockies are saying Bernabel's removal from the lineup is precautionary, so it sounds like he'll have a good chance to be back in action Friday in Pittsburgh. Kyle Farmer has moved from the designated-hitter spot to first base, while Hunter Goodman has entered the lineup at DH.
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Enrique Hernandez 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Kicks off rehab assignment
Hernandez (elbow) went 2-for-3 with a single and an RBI double in his first rehab game with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Hernandez got the start at designated hitter in what was his first game action since he went down with left elbow inflammation in early July. The utility player will need a few more rehab games before rejoining the Dodgers' active roster, perhaps before the end of the month.
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Michael Busch 1B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Delivers key hit Wednesday
Busch went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
Busch had half of the Cubs' four hits as a team -- including the key hit of the game -- a three-run double in the bottom of the third inning that erased a 1-0 Milwaukee lead. The Chicago first baseman is batting only .185 this month, though he is now riding a modest three-game hitting streak, with extra-base knocks in his last two contests. Busch should remain Chicago's primary leadoff hitter against righties.
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Enmanuel Valdez 1B | PIT
Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Tracking well in recovery
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Valdez (shoulder) will meet his surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, in Alabama later this month and could be cleared to resume hitting thereafter, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Valdez underwent season-ending surgery in May to address a dislocated left shoulder, but the Pirates anticipate that he'll be ready to play during winter ball. More specifically, Tomczyk suggested that Valdez could be fully cleared for game action by October, though that will hinge on how quickly the 26-year-old is able to advance through his hitting program. Valdez is a left-handed hitter but a right-handed thrower, so the surgery to his left shoulder is of greater concern to his long-term outlook at the plate rather than as a defender.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Out of Tuesday's lineup
Steer is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels.
Steer started the previous nine games and will receive a day off after going 10-for-32 with two doubles, two homers, six RBI and six runs during that span. Miguel Andujar will shift to first base while Matt McLain enters the lineup at second base.