MLB Player News
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Athletics' Matt Olson: Blasts eighth homer
Olson went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during Oakland's 10-5 loss to the Rangers in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.
Olson plated the first two Oakland runs with a homer off Joe Palumbo in the fourth inning, and all eight of his home runs have come in the 29 games since he returned from injury May 7. He now holds a .236/.317/.509 slash line for the year.
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Luke Voit 1B | NYM
Yankees' Luke Voit: Heads to bench
Voit is not in the lineup Saturday against Cleveland.
Voit gets his first day off in nearly a month and just his third all season. He's been required to carry a heavy load as the Yankees have dealt with a long list of injuries, though he could get more opportunities to rest as the team gets healthier. DJ LeMahieu starts at first base in his absence.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Padres' Josh Naylor: Crucial to ninth-inning rally
Naylor went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 win over the Nationals.
Naylor drew a spot start in place of Hunter Renfroe in left field and proved valuable during a two-run ninth inning. Naylor knocked a single to score Eric Hosmer, then stole second base before coming around to score the winning run on Austin Hedges' single. Naylor is hitting .244 with two homers and 11 RBI in 13 games since his promotion, and the stolen base was the first of his major-league career.
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Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE
Angels' Kole Calhoun: Launches 13th homer
Calhoun went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.
Calhoun swatted a homer off starter Marco Gonzales in the second inning to increase his season total to 13. The 31-year-old outfielder is off to a much better start than in 2018, but he still has some work to do. Overall, Calhoun's batting .239/.328/.486 with 37 runs scored and 25 RBI.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Reds' Joey Votto: Hits rare homer
Votto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk during a 4-2 loss against the Phillies on Friday.
Saying the long ball was a sight for sore eyes is a major understatement. Votto came into the night on pace for about 12 homers and 33 RBI this season. He didn't show much power last year either, but he did post 67 RBI and a league-leading .417 on-base percentage in 2018. Votto owns a .343 on-base percentage in 2019. He is also batting .251 with five homers, 12 RBI, 31 runs and one steal in 211 at-bats this season.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Athletics' Matt Olson: Reaches base twice
Olson went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Friday's win over the Rangers.
Olson singled home a run in the first inning to get Oakland on the board, and he registered his sixth double of the season in the later innings. The 25-year-old first baseman has struggled to hit for average so far this season (.236), though he has smacked seven home runs in just 29 games.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Braves' Freddie Freeman: Smashes 17th homer
Freeman went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, three RBI and two walks Friday against the Marlins.
Freeman came through with a two-run blast in the first inning to give his club an early lead, and he doubled home a run in the fourth to give Atlanta a six-run cushion. The 29-year-old has now homered in four of his last six contests, driving in nine runs during that stretch.
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Garrett Cooper 1B | ATL
Marlins' Garrett Cooper: Out of Friday's lineup
Cooper is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Braves, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.
Cooper is hitting the ball well over his last 20 games with a .329/.409/.539 slash line and five homers in 76 at-bats, but he'll take a seat for Friday's series opener. Martin Prado will start at first base and bat second with righty Mike Soroka on the mound for Atlanta.
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Trio of hits in win
Diaz went 3-for-5 with a run in a win over the Tigers on Thursday.
Diaz was a thorn in the side of Tigers pitching throughout the contest, generating his first multi-hit effort since May 19 in the process. The 27-year-old had gone just 1-for-7 in his first two games back from a hand injury, but he's now 4-for-8 with a pair of walks and runs apiece over the last two contests.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo: Bumped to leadoff spot
Rizzo will start at first base and bat leadoff Friday versus the Cardinals.
Rizzo has batted third in all 57 of his starts this season, but he will take over leadoff duties for the series opener against St. Louis. The 29-year-old owns an impressive .317/.409/.587 slash line over 198 plate appearances in his career at the top of the batting order.