MLB Player News
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: On bench again
Encarnacion-Strand went unused off the bench in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Marlins.
Since Noelvi Marte's return from the injured list last Friday, Encarnacion-Strand has started once over the last five games. For now, Marte and Spencer Steer will continue to garner most of the starts at the corner-infield spots, while Austin Hays and Gavin Lux appear set to share left field and the designated-hitter spot when the Reds face right-handed pitching. Encarnacion-Strand has batted just .179 over his last 17 games, and with his playing time on the downswing, he could soon be headed for a demotion to Triple-A Louisville.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Keeps raking
Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Rockies.
Gonzalez extended his hit streak to nine games Wednesday, swatting his third home run of that stretch. He's logged an extra-base hit in seven of those nine outings and has totaled 11 RBI and 10 runs scored during that span. On the year, Gonzalez is slashing .338/.372/.603 -- each of which would be a career-best marks.
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Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Four hits, homer in win
Harper went 4-for-6 with a solo home run, a double and three total runs scored in Wednesday's 13-0 win over San Francisco.
Harper extended the Phillies' lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning with an opposite-field shot off Justin Verlander, his 10th homer of the year and one of four hits on the day. It was a breakout performance from Harper, who'd been mired in an extended slump prior to Wednesday, going just 5-for-39 (.128) with one homer in his previous 13 contests. Overall, Harper is slashing .259/.370/.449 with 35 RBI, 36 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 289 plate appearances this season.
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Abraham Toro 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Abraham Toro: Stepping out of lineup Wednesday
Toro is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
Toro will head to the bench for the first time since June 29, ending a stretch of eight consecutive starts during which he went 9-for-31 (.290 average) with a 4:4 BB:K. Romy Gonzalez will get the nod at first base Wednesday, but Toro still appears to be viewed as the Red Sox's preferred option at the position.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Taking seat Wednesday
Naylor is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus San Diego.
Naylor will take a seat in the dugout Wednesday after going 1-for-5 with a two-run home run between the first two games of the series. Tristin English will take over at first base and bat seventh for Arizona.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Sitting versus southpaw
O'Hearn is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
The lefty-swinging O'Hearn doesn't always sit out versus left-handed pitching, but he'll begin Wednesday's contest on the bench as the Mets send southpaw David Peterson to the bump. Coby Mayo will cover first base and bat eighth for the Orioles.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Racks up three hits in victory
Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI in a 10-3 win against Seattle on Tuesday.
Goldschmidt scored New York's first run of the game in the fifth inning and stroked a two-run single in the seventh. He notched his fourth multi-hit performance over his past five contests, a span during which he's batting .391 with five doubles. The hot stretch comes on the heels of a rough 1-for-23 stretch to end the month of June. On the season, Goldschmidt is slashing .290/.349/.435 with eight homers, 34 RBI, 54 runs and five stolen bases over 347 plate appearances.
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Jake Bauers RF | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Getting start in series finale
Bauers will start at first base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
With Rhys Hoskins (thumb) landing on the injured list Monday and likely to remain on the shelf through at least mid-August, Bauers should have a clearer path to playing time, though he won't necessarily rank as the Brewers' preferred option at first base. Andrew Vaughn was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Monday and started over Bauers in both of the Brewers' first two games of the series with the Dodgers, going 2-for-5 with a home run, two walks, four RBI and two runs. Though Vaughn will get a breather Wednesday, he could be prioritized ahead of Bauers, who has produced a .212/.329/.381 slash line through 140 plate appearances on the season.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Taking seat Wednesday
Vaughn is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
After getting called up from Triple-A Nashville on Monday, Vaughn started at first base in both of the first two contests of the series with the Dodgers, going 2-for-5 with a home run, two walks, four RBI and two runs. Jake Bauers will get the nod at first base Wednesday, but Vaughn could end up seeing the bulk of the starts at the position while Rhys Hoskins (thumb) is on the shelf until around mid-to-late August.