MLB Player News
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Adam Frazier 2B | LAA
Orioles' Adam Frazier: Homers in early rally
Frazier went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 9-3 win over the Yankees.
Frazier swatted the homer during the Orioles' seven-run first inning. The 31-year-old has seen his playing time waver a bit lately, but he's still gone 6-for-18 (.333) with three doubles over his last seven games. He's at a .239/.301/.425 slash line with a career-high 13 homers, 49 RBI, 45 runs scored and seven stolen bases through 97 contests overall.
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Edouard Julien 2B | COL
Twins' Edouard Julien: Heads to bench versus lefty
Julien is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
The rookie will join fellow left-handed hitters Joey Gallo and Max Kepler on the bench for the series finale while the Royals bring southpaw Ryan Yarbrough to the hill. Jorge Polanco will check in for Julien at second base after making both of his first two starts at third base upon his return from the injured list Friday.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | SD
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Gets another turn as leadoff man
Rengifo will start at second base and bat leadoff in Sunday's game in Toronto, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
With Zach Neto having now sat out seven times in the Angels' last eight games due to back issues, Rengifo has received a temporary look as the Angels' table setter. Since Neto first exited the lineup July 22, Rengifo has reached base in each of the last seven contests while slashing .333/.375/.733 with six extra-base knocks.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Launches another homer
Massey went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 10-7 win over the Twins.
He took Bailey Ober deep in the second inning to help the Royals leap out to an early 6-0 lead. Massey has gone yard four times in his last seven games to double his homer total on the season, and over that stretch he's batting .321 (9-for-28) with seven RBI. The 25-year-old's .220/.272/.358 slash line on the year remains poor, but it won't take much of a hot streak for him to lock down the starting job at the keystone for Kansas City -- the team ranks 25th this year in offensive WAR from the position at 0.3.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Returning to form
Altuve went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Rays.
Altuve tallied his first home run since returning from the injured list July 26. Though it came off catcher Rene Pinto, Altuve now has hits in back-to-back games after going hitless in the first contest he was activated. He's returned to his customary spot atop the Astros' order and is likely to remain there for the rest of the season, assuming he stays healthy.
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Nicky Lopez 2B | TEX
Royals' Nicky Lopez: Picks up steal
Lopez went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Twins.
The steal was Lopez's first since May 29. He's got decent speed, though he's had trouble getting on base lately, as he's hitting just .143 over 10 contests since the All-Star break. Lopez lacks an everyday place in the lineup, instead serving as depth in the infield and left field. He has a poor .210/.322/.280 slash line with four steals, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored, five doubles and three triples through 67 contests, and he's yet to hit a home run this season.
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Brandon Drury 2B | KC
Angels' Brandon Drury: Targeting Thursday return
Drury (shoulder) said Saturday that he will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake this week and hopes to return Thursday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Drury has been on the injured list since July 2 with inflammation in his left shoulder and appears to finally be nearing the end of his rehab process. The 30-year-old infielder is slashing .277/.322/.500 with 14 homers and 45 RBI on the season and figures to resume everyday duties once he returns from his assignment.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Blue Jays' Whit Merrifield: Big game from top of order
Merrifield went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 4-1 win over the Angels.
After swiping a bag in the sixth inning he took Jose Soriano deep in the seventh, giving Merrifield eight homers and 21 steals on the season to go with his .305/.354/.425 slash line. The 34-year-old moved up to the leadoff spot Friday, with George Springer shifting down to the five hole, and Merrifield could get a long look at the top of the order given his initial success.