MLB Player News
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Troy Johnston RF | COL
Marlins' Troy Johnston: Idle against southpaw
Johnston is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
The Nationals are sending lefty Andrew Alvarez to the hill for the series opener, so Johnston will head to the bench along with another lefty-hitting lineup regular in Liam Hicks. Johnston closed August with a .293/.328/.414 slash line, one home run, one stolen base, seven RBI and five runs over 23 games.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Rare day off Monday
Steer is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Blue Jays.
Steer will yield first base to Sal Stewart, who was called up from Triple-A Louisville to make his major-league debut. Stewart could bounce around to a few infield positions as well as designated hitter in order to get his bat in the lineup, but Steer should still man first base most days for the Reds. Steer had started each of the last 10 contests before sitting out Monday.
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Sal Stewart 1B | CIN
Reds' Sal Stewart: Gets call to majors
The Reds selected Stewart's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Monday. He will start at first base and bat sixth in the Reds' series opener versus the Blue Jays.
Stewart has been a consistent producer throughout his minor-league career, and he started getting to more over-the-fence power in his age-21 season. He slashed .309/.383/.524 with 20 home runs, 17 steals and a 15.6 percent strikeout rate in 118 games across Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A. Stewart is capable of playing second, third and first base and should get regular work down the stretch. He's more of an average runner than a plus runner, so his speed may not translate in September, but Stewart's hitting ability, role and home park make him a worthwhile roster addition in fantasy.
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Nate Lowe 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Nathaniel Lowe: Logs two hits in return
Lowe went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Pirates.
Lowe returned to the team after being on paternity leave and had two hits, his third multi-hit game in 10 games since joining the Red Sox. He'll resume his role as the strong side of a platoon at first base along with Romy Gonzalez.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Goes hitless Sunday
Tellez started at first base and went 0-for-5 in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Athletics.
Tellez has handled regular reps at first base against right-handed pitching in recent weeks, but he's gone just 5-for-27 with a 2:10 BB:K over his last 10 games and could be at risk of losing out on regular starts. According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, Jake Burger (wrist) could be activated from the injured list as soon as Monday, and the Rangers may consider giving the right-handed-hitting Burger a look as the full-time first baseman rather than deploying him in a platoon with Tellez.
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Jake Burger 3B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Could be activated Monday
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Burger (wrist) could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Burger wasn't sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment since landing on the injured list Aug. 18 due to a left wrist sprain, but he's been able to face live pitching at the Rangers' facility in Arizona and appears to be ready for game action. Whenever he's activated, Burger is likely to step back into the short side of a platoon at first base with the left-handed-hitting Rowdy Tellez.
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Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Yet to resume activity
Schanuel (wrist) said Friday that he has yet to resume baseball activities, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
After being placed on the shelf last Sunday due to a bone bruise in his left wrist, Schanuel expressed confidence that he would be available to rejoin the Angels in the minimum 10 days, but he doesn't appear to be progressing as quickly as he anticipated. The Angels will likely continue to get by with a platoon of Niko Kavadas and Oswald Peraza at first base until Schanuel makes a full recovery.
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Sal Stewart 1B | CIN
Reds' Sal Stewart: Moving up to majors
The Reds plan to call up Stewart from Triple-A Louisville on Monday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Regarded as one of the top position prospects in the organization, Stewart began the season at Double-A Chattanooga, with whom he posted an .850 OPS en route to earning a promotion to Louisville following the All-Star break. The 21-year-old has been unfazed by the jump in competition, as he's slashed a sizzling .315/.394/.629 with 10 home runs and four stolen bases in 38 games with Louisville to make his way to the big leagues. During his time at Triple-A, Stewart has mostly played third base, but he's also gotten some exposure to first base and second base. The keystone could prove to be Stewart's primary avenue to playing time to begin his big-league career, as Matt McLain has been serving as the Reds' main option at that position but has provided a middling .222/.302/.343 slash line over 122 games.
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Enrique Hernandez 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Sitting after four straight starts
Hernandez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Hernandez will head to the bench Sunday after he had started in each of the last four games -- three at third base, one at first base -- while going 4-for-14 with three RBI and two runs. The Dodgers should be able to find regular room for Hernandez in the lineup against left-handed pitching during the final month of the season, but the right-handed-hitting utility player could find playing time versus righties more difficult to come by in September. Los Angeles is expected to get Hyeseong Kim (shoulder) back from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh, and Tommy Edman (ankle) looks to be on the cusp of a rehab assignment and will soon give the Dodgers another utility option.
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Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Bowing out of lineup
Mayo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
With Ryan Mountcastle drawing a start at first base and Gunnar Henderson getting a day off from playing shortstop but remaining in the lineup as the Orioles' designated hitter, Mayo will be the odd man out of the lineup. Mayo had started in each of Baltimore's last six games and went just 2-for-23, bringing his batting average down to .184 for the season.