MLB Player News
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Abraham Toro 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Abraham Toro: Delivers two-out RBI in win
Toro went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Monday's 2-0 win over Seattle.
Toro's two-out single in the third inning drove in Boston's second run. He's recently moved up the batting order against right-handers -- Toro hit third against the three previous righties faced -- and batted second Monday, the spot that had belonged to Rafael Devers for much of the season. He'll continue to hold the strong side of a platoon at first base and could get starts at third base when Red Sox manager Alex Cora doesn't want to expose Marcelo Mayer to a southpaw. Toro is batting .317/.345/.538 with five home runs, eight doubles, 13 RBI and 15 runs scored over 30 games.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Belts another clutch homer
Kurtz went 1-for-4 with a two-run walk-off home run Monday in a 3-1 win against the Astros.
Kurtz was quiet until the bottom of the ninth inning, when he broke a 1-1 tie with a big 447-foot, two-run shot to right-center field. It was the second time in as many days that the young slugger has won the game for the A's with a long ball -- he broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth frame Sunday with a solo blast. Kurtz is still slashing a modest .235/.293/.454 on the campaign, but he's gone deep six times over his past 11 contests and has knocked in 13 runs over that span.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Sitting in second straight game
Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
The Yankees haven't indicated that Goldschmidt is dealing with a physical issue, but the 37-year-old will hit the bench for the second day in a row against a right-handed starting pitcher (Jose Soriano). Manager Aaron Boone will likely elaborate further on the lineup when he speaks to the media Monday, but Chris Kirschner of The Athletic speculates that the return of Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) from the 60-day injured list could result in the Yankees opting for a quasi-platoon at first base. With Stanton expected to get the majority of the at-bats at designated hitter moving forward, the right-handed-hitting Goldschmidt could give way at first base more frequently to the left-handed-hitting Ben Rice when the Yankees face righties. Goldschmidt owns a 91 wRC+ versus righties for the season, while Rice has posted a 132 wRC+ in those matchups.
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Nate Lowe 1B | BOS
Nationals' Nathaniel Lowe: Idle against southpaw
Lowe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Even though he owns a lowly .209/.250/.302 slash line against left-handed pitching this season, the lefty-hitting Lowe typically starts in those matchups, but he'll get Monday off while southpaw Carson Palmquist toes the rubber for Colorado. Andres Chaparro will step in for Lowe at first base and will bat cleanup.
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Orlando Arcia 3B | COL
Rockies' Orlando Arcia: Back on bench Monday
Arcia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Arcia had started in four of the Rockies' past five games at three different positions, but he'll hit the bench Monday and may have to settle for more of a part-time role moving forward. With the Rockies recalling Michael Toglia from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday and likely to reinstall him as their everyday first baseman, Arcia's main pathways to playing time could come at shortstop and designated hitter moving forward.
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Juan Yepez 1B | WAS
Nationals' Juan Yepez: Pushed off 40-man roster
The Nationals designated Yepez for assignment Monday.
Yepez will be moved off the Nationals' 40-man roster to clear a spot for infielder Brady House, who was promoted from Triple-A Rochester on Monday. After failing to win a spot on Washington's Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Yepez has spent the entire season with Rochester and has hit .199/.273/.301 with three home runs in 172 plate appearances. Given his struggles at Triple-A and limited defensive flexibility, the 27-year-old Yepez is likely to clear waivers.
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Keston Hiura 1B | COL
Rockies' Keston Hiura: Booted from 40-man roster
The Rockies designated Hiura for assignment Monday.
Hiura's playing time had been scarce lately, so it's not a surprise he'll be pushed off the roster to make room for the return of Michael Toglia, who was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. The veteran infielder had a .611 OPS in eight games for the Rockies and will now go through the waivers process.
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Michael Toglia 1B | COL
Rockies' Michael Toglia: Returns to big leagues
The Rockies recalled Toglia from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.
Toglia was sent down in late May after slashing only .194/.266/.349 with a 39.1 percent strikeout rate in his first 54 games. He cut his strikeout rate to a more respectable 29.4 percent at Albuquerque while collecting a .921 OPS and three home runs in 11 contests. Making contact remains an issue for Toglia, but he should play every day at first base, and his power upside makes him worth picking back up in fantasy leagues for managers in need of corner infield or outfield help.
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Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Continues hot stretch with homer
Schanuel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Baltimore on Sunday.
Schanuel gave the Angels an early lead with a 416-foot solo shot to center field in the first inning. The long ball snapped a 23-game stretch without a homer for the lefty batter. Despite the power drought, Schanuel has been swinging the bat well of late, collecting multiple hits in five of his past 11 games and batting .341 with eight RBI and two steals over that stretch.