MLB Player News
-
Jonathan Aranda 1B | TB
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Extends hitting streak to 12 games
Aranda went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 22-8 loss to the Orioles.
Aranda opened Friday's scoring with a 433-foot solo home run off Tomoyuki Sugano. That home run extended Aranda's hitting streak to 12 games, and over that span he has gone 19-for-48 (.396) with eight runs scored, four doubles, one home run and five RBI.
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Dealing with neck stiffness
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after Friday's 9-8 loss to the Marlins that Naylor was removed from the game due to neck stiffness, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.
Naylor went 0-for-3 with one strikeout before being replaced by Tim Tawa prior the start of the seventh inning. Lovullo added that Naylor will likely be out of the lineup Saturday but should return for Sunday's series finale. Pavin Smith -- who served as the DH on Friday -- is likely to replace Naylor on Saturday against Miami's projected starter, right-hander Sandy Alcantara.
-
Otto Kemp 3B | PHI
Phillies' Otto Kemp: Belts first career long ball
Kemp went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in Friday's 13-0 win over Atlanta.
Kemp lifted his first career homer, and he's now logged at least one hit in five of his last eight games. The 25-year-old rookie is helping fill in at first base for the injured Bryce Harper (wrist), and Kemp is slashing .242/.329/.339 with three doubles, nine RBI, nine runs scored and one stolen base over 70 plate appearances. That said, Kemp will be at risk of being optioned back to the minor leagues once Harper is ready to return, which could come as soon as next week.
-
Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Launches first MLB homer
Mayo went 2-for-6 with a two-run double, a two-run home run and another run scored during Friday's 22-8 win over Tampa Bay.
Mayo finally hit his first major-league home run in the eighth, albeit off shortstop Jose Caballero, who yielded two homers and six runs in the frame. Per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, Mayo is the sixth player since 2020 to hit the first home run of their MLB career off a position player and the first Orioles player to do so since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954. Mayo has three multi-hit games over his last eight starts, and over that span he has gone 8-for-29 (.276) with one home run and seven RBI.
-
Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Smashes career-high three home runs
Steer went 3-for-4 with three home runs and four RBI in Friday's 8-1 win over the Padres.
Steer blasted a career-high three long balls, and it was also his second career multi-homer effort. The first baseman has begun to settle in at the dish following a sluggish start to the season, which saw him bat .185 and slug .285 over his first 34 games. Across his last 154 plate appearances (41 outings), Steer is slashing a healthy .308/.338/.507 with 16 extra-base hits, 20 RBI, 13 runs scored and three stolen bases.
-
Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: On bench Friday
Busch is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.
Busch will cede to Justin Turner against left-hander Brandon Walter. In his last nine games, Busch is 12-for-34 (.353) with a pair of home runs.
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Late addition to lineup
Guerrero (forearm) is now playing first and batting third Friday against Boston, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Guerrero wasn't initially in Friday's lineup due to a bruised right forearm, but after he hit in the cage, the Blue Jays opted to insert the first baseman into their starting nine, according to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. Alan Roden was bumped from the lineup to make way for Guerrero.
-
Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Getting breather
Horwitz is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.
Horwitz's streak of seven consecutive starts comes to an end Friday as he yields to Jared Triolo at first base. In his last 12 games, Horwitz is 15-for-44 (.341) with five doubles.
-
Carlos Santana 1B | CHC
Guardians' Carlos Santana: Taking seat Friday
Santana is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.
Santana will yield to Kyle Manzardo at first base Friday, ending Santana's three-game start streak. The veteran first baseman is 13-for-77 (.169) with a pair of home runs in June.
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Absent from lineup
Guerrero (forearm) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.
Manager John Schneider said Friday morning that Guerrero was likely to be in Friday's lineup, but Guerrero will actually be on the bench. The first baseman was hit by a pitch on the forearm Thursday, and his X-rays came back negative. He should still be considered day-to-day going forward, but his status is certainly worth monitoring.