MLB Player News
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: Goes on COVID-19 IL
The Giants placed Estrada (illness) on the COVID-19-related injured list prior to Sunday's game against the White Sox, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Estrada hasn't played since being scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's series opener with a sore throat, and though he hasn't tested positive for the virus, the fact that he's experienced symptoms of an illness for 24 hours will be enough for the Giants to place him on the IL. He'll be eligible to return to the active roster as soon as he sheds his symptoms and continues to test negative, but fantasy managers in weekly leagues likely won't feel comfortable including him in active lineups if he isn't cleared before Monday's series opener in Arizona. The Giants called up Yermin Mercedes from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Estrada on the roster.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Sits in series finale
Marte is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Marte will head to the bench for only the second time since he made his return from a hamstring injury June 21. Because the injury still inhibits his lateral movement in the infield, Marte has served exclusively as a designated hitter in his eight starts since returning to the lineup, going a collective 6-for-27 with a home run, nine walks, four runs and two RBI over those games. Cooper Hummel will serve as Arizona's DH in the series finale Sunday.
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Jonathan Arauz 3B | LAD
Orioles' Jonathan Arauz: Sits against lefty
Arauz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
With a lefty (Devin Smeltzer) on the bump for Minnesota, the lefty-hitting Arauz will take a seat for the second straight contest. Platoon mate Tyler Nevin will fill in for Arauz at third base.
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Jonathan India 2B | KC
Reds' Jonathan India: Late scratch Sunday in rest day
The Reds scratched India from the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta. He'll be receiving a rest day and isn't dealing with an injury, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic.
Max Schrock was a late addition to the lineup and will replace India as the Reds' starting second baseman and leadoff hitter. India had started each of the past five games, going 5-for-23 with a home run, three RBI and an additional run.
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Michael Stefanic 2B | ATH
Angels' Michael Stefanic: Called up, starting Sunday
Stefanic was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake and will start at second base Sunday against the Astros, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
The back half of the Angels' order has been disastrous, and Stefanic will be the latest to get an audition. Sunday's start will mark his major-league debut. Tyler Wade was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the roster for Stefanic, who is hitting .320 in the Pacific Coast League in 2022, albeit with only 10 extra-base hits (one home run) in 210 plate appearances. According to Sam Blum of The Athletic, interim manager Phil Nevin said the Angels plan to give Stefanic a look in an everyday role, so he could be worth a pickup in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues, particularly for fantasy managers looking for help in the batting-average category.
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Santiago Espinal 3B | TEX
Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Takes seat Sunday
Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Cavan Biggio will be filling in at the keystone in place of Espinal, who appears to be getting a routine maintenance day in the series finale. Espinal went 3-for-11 with two doubles, a walk and two runs in the first three games of the series.
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Vidal Brujan SS | NYM
Rays' Vidal Brujan: Loses hold of regular role
Brujan remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Brujan is on the bench for the fourth game in a row and looks to have moved into a utility role in the wake of Isaac Paredes seizing hold of a regular lineup spot and with Wander Franco and Kevin Kiermaier recently returning from the injured list. Taylor Walls looks like he'll serve as the Rays' primary second baseman over Brujan until Brandon Lowe (back) comes off the IL.
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Cavan Biggio RF | HOU
Blue Jays' Cavan Biggio: Making fourth consecutive start
Biggio will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Rays.
Biggio started both ends of Saturday's doubleheader and is now set to make his fourth consecutive start for the Blue Jays. Three of those four starts have come at second base, as Biggio picks up extra work while Santiago Espinal shifts elsewhere on the infield to give the likes of Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman a breather. Biggio is slashing .294/.442/.544 with a pair of homers since the beginning of June.
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Brandon Drury 2B | KC
Reds' Brandon Drury: Receives day off
Drury is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
He'll sit for only the second time since the beginning of June, allowing Donovan Solano to pick up a start at third base while Mike Moustakas serves as Cincinnati's designated hitter. Drury's move to the bench comes after he went hitless in 11 at-bats with six strikeouts over the past three contests, but he's still slashing a robust .267/.326/.518 in 279 plate appearances this season.
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Michael Chavis 2B | CIN
Pirates' Michael Chavis: Slugs ninth homer
Chavis went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Brewers.
Chavis drew only his second start in his last six games while losing out on playing time to Josh VanMeter. Both of those starts have come against southpaws, so Chavis appears to be on the short side of a platoon. He took advantage of the opportunity Saturday, smacking a two-run home run off Aaron Ashby in the third inning to tally his ninth long ball of the campaign. Chavis has shown an all-or-nothing approach at the dish of late, as he has only six hits in his last 27 at-bats -- though three have left the yard.