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Jorge Polanco DH | NYM
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Struggling early in season
Polanco went 1-for-4 in a loss to the Guardians on Wednesday and is hitting just .115 (4-for-26) with no extra-base hits over his first seven games.
The veteran's Mariners tenure could hardly be off to a more inauspicious start, and compounding the concern is the fact Polanco has also generated an alarming 42.9 percent strikeout rate in that sample of 28 plate appearances. The 30-year-old posted a career-high 25.7 percent strikeout rate with the Twins last season as well, so it remains to be seen if the poor contact rate early this season ultimately proves to be an extension of that troublesome pattern. Polanco does now have a single in three consecutive contests, a mildly encouraging development after he opened the campaign going 1-for-14 in his first four contests.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Finding power early
Altuve went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Altuve concluded an offensive barrage by the Astros, as his solo home run in the seventh inning put the team up 8-0. He now has three homers on the season, all of which have come in his last four games. Altuve has also begun the new campaign with a seven-game hitting streak, including three multi-hit performances.
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Jose Caballero SS | NYY
Rays' Jose Caballero: Piling up stolen bases
Caballero went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Rangers.
Caballero has been in the lineup for six of the Rays' first seven games, hitting between sixth and ninth in the order. He's still found ways to be productive, as he's reached base eight times across 22 plate appearances with six combined RBI and runs scored. Most intriguing has been his aggressiveness on the basepaths, as Caballero now has three stolen bases on the season while being caught once.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Aiming to return Saturday
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that he's hopeful Lowe (oblique) will be ready to return to the lineup Saturday in Colorado, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe exited Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Rangers due to left side tightness, but Cash said the second baseman wanted to remain in the game. The manager hopes that the team's off day Thursday combined with a left-hander starting for the Rockies on Friday will allow Lowe sufficient rest before he can return to action Saturday. Side injuries can be tricky, though, so an eventual stint on the injured list can't be ruled out.
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Luis Rengifo LF | SD
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Removed with lightheadedness
Rengifo was lifted from Wednesday's game in Miami after feeling lightheaded.
Rengifo went 1-for-3 with a run scored at the plate before exiting. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. Nolan Schanuel entered the game in Rengifo's place, with Miguel Sano shifting from first to third base.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Exits game with side tightness
Lowe was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rangers due to left side tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's not clear when Lowe was injured, but he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being lifted after the fifth inning. The Rays are calling Lowe day-to-day for the time being, but the club may offer more clarity on his situation after the game.
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Josh Rojas 3B | KC
Mariners' Josh Rojas: Sitting versus lefty
Rojas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
The Mariners are going with a right-handed-heavy lineup to counter southpaw Logan Allen, so Rojas will retreat to the bench along with Dominic Canzone. Dylan Moore will replace Canzone in left field, while Luis Urias spells Rojas at third base.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Homers in Tuesday's loss
Altuve went 2-for-3 with a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays.
Altuve was responsible for the Astros' lone run in a pitchers' duel Tuesday, leading off the fourth inning with a solo shot off Jose Berrios to give Houston a 1-0 lead. Altuve has hits in six straight games to start the season, going 9-for-25 with two homers, five extra-base hits and five runs scored. The veteran second baseman slashed .311/.393/.522 last year with 17 homers, 51 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
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Davis Schneider LF | TOR
Blue Jays' Davis Schneider: Cranks game-winning homer
Schneider went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Astros.
Schneider was the hero in Toronto's dramatic victory over Houston, launching a two-run, 423-foot homer off Josh Hader to put the Blue Jays ahead 2-1 with two outs in the ninth inning. Schneider now has two hits, both home runs, in his first two starts this season. While he's primarily come off the bench early this year, Schneider's defensive versatility can earn him more of a regular role if he keeps swinging a hot bat. He slashed .276/.404/.603 with eight homers in 116 at-bats as a rookie last season.