MLB Player News
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Jake Burger 3B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Brought back from IL
The Rangers reinstated Burger (oblique) from the 10-day injured list. He'll start at designated hitter and bat seventh Wednesday against the Orioles.
Burger began a rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Frisco and 1-for-3 with a walk while playing seven innings at first base, and the Rangers evidently came away convinced that the 29-year-old was healthy enough to rejoin the big club. Since he was on the shelf for only about a week and a half due to the left oblique strain, Burger should be ready to reclaim an everyday role right away for the Rangers. Though he'll be used at DH in his first game back from the IL, Burger could end up settling in at first base if the Rangers elect to move super-utility man Josh Smith over to third base as a replacement for the struggling Josh Jung, who was demoted to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
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Ty France 1B | TOR
Twins' Ty France: Exiting starting nine Wednesday
France is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
France has served as the Twins' everyday first baseman throughout the season, but his stranglehold on that role could be slipping a bit. He'll hit the bench for the second time in the five games while he's slashed just .185/.241/.315 over a stretch of 14 contests dating back to June 14. Kody Clemens will step in for France at first base and will bat eighth.
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Curtis Mead 3B | CHW
Rays' Curtis Mead: Back on bench Wednesday
Mead is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.
Mead had made three starts at three different infield spots over each of the last three games, but he'll hit the bench Wednesday while Jonathan Aranda plays first base, Brandon Lowe covers second and Junior Caminero handles third. Those three players will be the primary starters at those positions against right-handed pitching, though Mead will likely replace one of the three in the lineup when the Rays face lefties.
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Willson Contreras C | STL
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Idle with bruised wrist
Contreras (wrist) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
As anticipated, Contreras will be held out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale after he was forced out of Tuesday's 1-0 loss due to a left wrist contusion, which he sustained when he was hit by a 99-mph Paul Skenes fastball. With a team off day looming Thursday, Contreras will get two full days to heal before potentially rejoining the lineup for Friday's series opener with the Cubs. Alec Burleson will cover first base Wednesday in Contreras' stead.
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Trio of hits in win
Walker went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Tuesday's victory over Colorado.
Walker tallied his fourth three-hit game of the season. A high-profile offseason addition, the first baseman has struggled to find his footing in his first year with Houston, slashing .220/.283/.362 with 23 extra-base hits and 38 RBI across 82 games. While he made solid contact Tuesday, Walker has yet to come close to matching the power he displayed during his eight seasons in Arizona, where he posted a .464 slugging percentage.
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Stays hot in win
Busch went 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Guardians.
Busch has been good all season for the Cubs, but especially so lately. The slugging infielder is batting .412 over his last 10 games with three home runs, eight runs scored and 11 RBI. The 27-year-old remains vulnerable against lefties, and he often sits in those matchups, but Busch has become a reliable fantasy option against righties.
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Willson Contreras C | STL
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Avoids structural damage
Contreras (hand) underwent X-rays after exiting Tuesday's contest in Pittsburg, which came back negative, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Contreras is considered day-to-day as he avoided any structural damage after being struck in the left hand by a fastball from Paul Skenes in the fourth inning Tuesday. With the Cardinals set to finish their series against the Pirates on Wednesday before an off day Thursday, it's possible that the 33-year-old could be held out until Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Late scratch Tuesday
Naylor (neck) was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Giants.
Naylor was set to make his return to the lineup after missing the last three games with neck stiffness, but he doesn't appear to have fully moved past the injury just yet. With Naylor on the bench again Tuesday, Pavin Smith will start at first base and Randal Grichuk will start at designated hitter.