MLB Player News
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Braves' Freddie Freeman: Continues hitting tear Friday
Freeman went 3-for-5 with a double, a steal and an RBI Friday at the Mets.
Freeman's double in the third inning broke up a tie game, and ended up being all the runs the Braves would need to earn the win over the Mets. He's been on fire the last three games, as he's collected 10 hits in 22 at-bats to raise his batting average 24 points to .272.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Mets' Wilmer Flores: Will be available to pinch-hit
Flores (wrist) can pinch-hit during Friday's game against the Braves, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.
According to manager Terry Collins, he believes that Flores will be back in the lineup Saturday and could pinch hit if need be for Friday's contest. Flores was hit by a pitch during Thursday's game and is out of the lineup tonight as Kelly Johnson will man the hot corner.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Mets' Wilmer Flores: Out of Friday's lineup
Flores (wrist) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Braves.
Flores suffered a wrist injury after being plunked on the hand by a pitch during Thursday's game. He left the contest in the third inning and had X-rays taken on his left hand, which came back negative. Flores could end up missing Saturday's game as well, but will be replaced by Kelly Johnson at third base for Friday's game.
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Tommy Joseph 1B | TEX
Phillies' Tommy Joseph: Seeing more off-speed stuff
Joseph said he has noticed an increase in off-speed pitches of late from opposing pitchers, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Joseph hit .323 with seven home runs over his first 21 games in the majors, but is hitting just .083 with seven strikeouts over his last six games. His strikeout rate has more than doubled from his rate at Triple-A this season. He will need to make adjustments and capitalize when he does get fastballs to hit to prove he belongs in the majors long term. The Phillies will give him plenty of rope to prove himself this year as they continue to look toward the future.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Mets' Wilmer Flores: Could miss 1-2 games
X-rays on Flores' left hand came back negative Thursday, but he still may miss one-to-two games in order to recover, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.
Flores exited Thursday's game in the third inning after being hit on the hand by a pitch. X-rays revealed no fractures, but he was diagnosed with a left hand contusion. If manager Terry Collins opts to hold him out Friday, the recently recalled Ty Kelly or the veteran Kelly Johnson could be called upon to take over at third base.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Braves' Freddie Freeman: Smashes 10 hits, three homers in four games
Freeman went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs Thursday afternoon against the Reds.
Apparently, facing Cincy was just the prescription Freeman needed to get his bat on track; over the course of this four-game series, he banged out 10 hits, including three homers, two doubles and a triple -- lifting his OPS by 82 points in the process. While that's exciting, it's hard to ignore how ineffective Freeman and the rest of the Braves were all season before this series; they'll need to maintain this offensive surge to make Freeman more than a fringe starter in shallower formats.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Mets' Wilmer Flores: Diagnosed with hand contusion
Flores left Thursday's game in the third inning with a left hand contusion, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.
The Mets immediately sent Flores for X-rays after he was hit by a pitch near his wrist in the bottom of the second inning. Fortunately, the tests came back negative for any fracture, although Flores' status for Friday is uncertain. Kelly Johnson replaced Flores at third base.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Mets' Wilmer Flores: Leaves Thursday after HBP
Flores left Thursday's game after being on the wrist by a pitch, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.
He stayed in initially after the hit-by-pitch in the second inning, but was ultimately lifted for Kelly Johnson in the bottom of the third. The extent of the injury is uncertain, but expect the Mets to continue leaning on Johnson at the hot corner if Flores is forced to miss additional time.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Braves' Freddie Freeman: Hits for majors' first cycle of 2016
Freeman collected MLB's first cycle of 2016 against the Reds on Wednesday, going 4-for-7 with an RBI and two runs in a 13-inning win.
Yeah, it took him extras to accomplish the feat, with Freeman's 11th-inning single to right center making it official. The Braves' first baseman has had two big games in this ongoing four-game series against the Reds, as he also racked up three hits and a homer Monday. However, thanks to Atlanta's sad-sack offense, Freeman's stats remain depressed -- particularly his RBI total, which stands at a meager 22 despite 11 homers, but also his career-low .257 average.