MLB Player News
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Braves' Freddie Freeman: Collects three hits in win
Freeman went 3-for-5 with a double and a stolen base while knocking in a run and scoring twice in Sunday's victory versus Washington.
Freeman recorded his eighth game of three or more hits this season, collecting singles in the first and third innings and a run-scoring double in the seventh. The All-Star first baseman went 7-for-18 in the four-game series against the Nationals, driving in a single run in each game of the series. He is slashing .301/.387/.567 with 25 homers and 78 RBI in 395 at-bats this season.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Padres' Josh Naylor: Officially optioned
Naylor was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.
The move had been widely reported Saturday, but the club made the official move to make room for Michel Baez and Adrian Morejon on the 25-man roster. Naylor hit .236/.287/.358 across 41 games in his first major-league experience.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Sitting Sunday
Goldschmidt is not in Sunday's lineup against the Reds.
Goldschmidt will draw his first day off since the All-Star break. His performance across those nine games has been a mixed bag, as he's turned in five hitless performances but also managed two multi-hit efforts. Recently recalled Rangel Ravelo will bat third and start at first base in his place.
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Dominic Smith 1B | ATL
Mets' Dominic Smith: Big offensive day
Smith went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 11-4 win over the Giants.
It was Smith's 10th homer of the season and eighth since taking over as the Mets' primary left fielder at the beginning of June. The 24-year-old is really coming into his own this season, slashing .293/.370/.537 while lowering his strikeout rate (21.7 percent) and raising his walk rate (10.4 percent). Smith should continue to see regular at-bats against righties, making him a viable option in most formats.
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Matt Beaty 1B | KC
Dodgers' Matt Beaty: Smacks go-ahead homer
Beaty went 1-for-1 with a go-ahead three-run homer in a 10-6 win over the Marlins on Saturday.
Beaty entered the game as a defensive replacement in left field in the eighth inning. He then delivered the biggest hit of the night in the bottom half of the frame with the three-run homer to reclaim the lead for the Dodgers. Beaty has frequently entered off the bench, hitting .313/.336/.530 with five homers, 24 RBI and 19 runs scored in 115 at-bats this season. Despite going 12-for-28 with three homers, 11 RBI and nine runs scored over his last 10 games, he's likely to remain in a pinch-hitting role more often than not.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Padres' Josh Naylor: To be optioned Sunday
Naylor will be optioned prior to Sunday's game against the Cubs, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Naylor has been with the big-league team for nearly two months but hasn't particularly impressed, hitting .238/.289/.362 with three homers in 40 games. As a player whose value comes almost exclusively from his bat, he'll have to hit much better during his next opportunity if he's to stick around. Adrian Morejon will be called up to take his place on the roster.
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Mets' Pete Alonso: Day off Saturday
Alonso is not in the lineup Saturday against the Giants, Matt Ehalt of Yahoo! Sports reports.
Alonso will sit for the first time since late May. He's been cold in the seven games since the All-Star break, hitting .100/.200/.300, though the sample size is of course quite small. Dominic Smith will move to first base in his absence, with J.D. Davis starting in left field.
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Keston Hiura 2B | LAD
Brewers' Keston Hiura: Maintains hot bat in loss
Hiura went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run in a 10-7 loss to the Diamondbacks on Friday.
While Hiura turned in another quality performance at the plate, it wasn't a solid all-around night, as he made an error to negate a potential double play in the third inning and was also caught stealing in the contest. Even so, Hiura's offensive excellence since the All-Star break should be enough for the Brewers to stick with him in an everyday role despite his shortcomings in other areas. Through his first eight games of the second half, the rookie has gone 17-for-31 with nine extra-base hits, nine RBI, eight runs and three steals.
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Swats 19th homer
Walker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a pair of walks in Friday's 10-7 victory over the Brewers.
Walker launched a two-run homer on a line drive to center field off Jhoulys Chacin in the third inning to give the Diamondbacks a 5-3 lead. The 28-year-old has homered in five of 10 games this month as he continues to heat up in the second half. Overall this season, Walker has 19 home runs, 52 runs scored and 48 RBI while batting .259/.341/.503.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Padres' Josh Naylor: Posts pinch-hit homer
Naylor went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit solo home run in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs on Friday.
Although the Padres suffered defeat anyway, starter Eric Lauer avoided the loss thanks to Naylor -- he tied the game with his long ball. Naylor hasn't displayed much power this season, as this was his first homer since June 5. He is batting .238 with three home runs, 16 RBI, 11 runs and one steal in 105 at-bats this season.