MLB Player News
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Blasts 10th homer
Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run Sunday against the Pirates.
Goldschmidt smacked a two-run blast to left field in the first inning, cutting the Cardinals' early deficit to one run. The 31-year-old has pieced together a modest three-game hitting streak, raising his batting average over 25 points during that brief stretch.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Pirates' Josh Bell: Monster day at dish
Bell went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, five RBI, a walk and three runs scored Sunday against the Cardinals.
Bell kicked off the scoring in this one in the first inning with a double to right center, plating two runs. He tied the contest in the seventh by smashing a three-run homer. The 26-year-old has been red-hot at the dish of late and has extended his hitting streak to 12 games following Sunday's series finale. Bell also managed to raise his batting average from .299 to .319 following a four-hit performance.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo: Out with back tightness
Rizzo is out of the lineup for Sunday night's game against the Brewers due to back tightness, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Saturday's 15-inning game and Sunday's cold weather may have caused Rizzo's back to tighten up, so he'll take a seat for the series finale. The Cubs will justifiably remain cautious with their star first baseman and take advantage of Monday's scheduled off day to give him two full days off his feet. Kris Bryant will move over to first base Sunday as Rizzo steps out of the lineup for the first time this season.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Braves' Freddie Freeman: Scratched with illness
Freeman was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks due to a head cold, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The issue had reportedly bothered Freeman before the Braves arrived in Arizona, but he started the first two games of the series and went 4-for-9 with two extra-base hits in those contests. The Braves will hope that a day of rest coupled with Monday's off day will be all Freeman needs to make a full recovery in time for Tuesday's series opener against the Cardinals. Charlie Culberson will replace Freeman at first base Sunday.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Settles into two hole
Guerrero will start at third base and bat second Sunday against the White Sox.
Guerrero opened his career as the Blue Jays' No. 5 hitter, but after he offered little impact as a slugger over his first week and a half in the big leagues, Toronto has deployed him out of the two hole in the previous two contests. The lineup change appeared to pay dividends in Saturday's 7-2 loss, as Guerrero turned in the best performance of his young career by reaching base in all four plate appearances (two singles, two walks). The power should eventually show up for Guerrero, but the control he showed during his at-bats Saturday was encouraging as he put his exceptional plate discipline on full display.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Royals' Ryan O'Hearn: Sitting versus southpaw
O'Hearn is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Phillies.
O'Hearn started the last seven games at first base and went 6-for-25 with a double, home run and five RBI, but he was hitless with four strikeouts in the last three contests. Left-hander Cole Irvin will take the mound for the Phillies, sending the 25-year-old to the bench as he is 0-for-18 versus lefties this season. Hunter Dozier will cover first base in his absence for the Royals.
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C.J. Cron 1B | BOS
Twins' C.J. Cron: Caps twin bill with big night
Cron went 4-for-5 with a double and a three-run home run in an 8-3 win over the Tigers in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
After homering in the matinee, the first baseman really got rolling in the nightcap, taking Gregory Soto deep in the fifth inning to blow open what had been a 4-3 Twins lead. Cron now sports a .261/.318/.521 slash line through 35 games with nine homers and 26 RBI, but his playing time could take a hit once Miguel Sano (heel) rejoins the lineup later this month.
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Clubs two homers
Diaz went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in a 7-2 win over the Yankees on Saturday.
Diaz hit a solo shot off CC Sabathia in the third inning and then capped Tampa Bay's scoring in the seventh with a three-run blast to essentially put the game away. The 27-year-old is slashing .267/.357/.550 with nine home runs, 22 RBI and a 20:24 BB:K over 35 games and should continue to be a mainstay in the top half of the Rays' lineup.
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Brandon Dixon 1B | SD
Tigers' Brandon Dixon: Homers in afternoon game
Dixon went 2-for-4 with a homer in the afternoon portion of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins.
Dixon's homer, his second of the season, was a two-out solo shot in the second inning off Michael Pineda. He's now hitting .294/.314/.529 in 35 plate appearances but is striking out 42.9 percent of the time.