MLB Player News
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Luis Garcia 1B | WAS
Nationals' Luis Garcia: Not in lineup Thursday
Garcia is not in the lineup Thursday against the Mets, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Michael Chavis will start at second base and bat seventh with left-hander Joey Lucchesi on the mound for New York. Garcia is slashing just .209/.260/.328 through 73 total plate appearances this year with Washington.
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Joseph Ortiz SS | MIL
Orioles' Joey Ortiz: Batting ninth in debut
Ortiz is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Orioles on Thursday versus the Tigers in his major-league debut.
Ortiz was recalled earlier Thursday and will be thrown right into the mix. The 24-year-old could see a little action at multiple infield spots for the Orioles but wouldn't seem to be in line for everyday playing time.
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Jose Caballero 2B | NYY
Mariners' Jose Caballero: Handling second base
Caballero is starting at second base and batting eighth for the Mariners on Thursday against the Phillies, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
The 26-year-old has been serving on the short side of a platoon at second base with Kolten Wong of late. Caballero will go up against left-hander Matt Strahm in the series finale at Philadelphia.
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Joseph Ortiz SS | MIL
Orioles' Joey Ortiz: Summoned to majors
Ortiz was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Thursday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Ortiz finished strong at Norfolk last season, and it has carried over into 2023 with a .359/.389/.500 slash line. The 24-year-old is a strong defender and has experience at all infield positions other than first base. While a good prospect, Ortiz might not play enough to provide much fantasy value in his first taste of the big leagues.
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Ji-Hwan Bae 2B | NYM
Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Runs wild in Wednesday's win
Bae went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one RBI and three stolen bases in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Dodgers.
The Pirates showed no mercy to Los Angeles catcher Austin Wynns, going a combined 6-for-6 on steal attempts, but Bae was the star of the track meet. The 23-year-old has five pilfers in the last two games against the Dodgers and is now 10-for-11 on the basepaths in 2023, tying him for second in the majors in steals behind Ronald Acuna's 13.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Blue Jays' Whit Merrifield: Two hits, steal in win
Merrifield went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a steal in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.
Merrifield saw his 10-game hitting streak end Tuesday but got back on track Wednesday, hitting a pair of singles and swiping his fourth bag in a win over the White Sox. The 34-year-old Merrifield has gotten off to a fast start this year following a down 2022 season. He's now slashing .313/.377/.403 with 10 RBI and nine runs scored through 77 plate appearances.
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Miguel Vargas 3B | CHW
Dodgers' Miguel Vargas: Sitting out Thursday
Vargas is absent from the Dodgers' lineup for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Mookie Betts will handle second base. Vargas is getting on base at a .372 clip thanks to 16 walks, but a .681 OPS and zero home runs have left something to be desired, although he did steal his first bag of the season Wednesday.
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Christian Arroyo 2B | NYM
Red Sox's Christian Arroyo: Enters game off bench
Arroyo (hamstring) went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to Baltimore.
Arroyo, who nursed a hamstring injury and was held out of the starting lineup, entered the game as a pinch hitter for starting second baseman Enmanuel Valdez and stayed in the game at the keystone. The Red Sox are off Thursday, and Arroyo is expected to be available Friday when Boston kicks off a three-game set at Fenway Park versus the Guardians.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: Records three hits, steals base
Estrada went 3-for-5 with a double, a run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over St. Louis.
Estrada has been a catalyst on offense all season for San Francisco, and Wednesday was no different. He reached base three times and recorded his ninth multi-hit effort through 23 games thus far. Estrada is slashing an impressive .326/.374/.511 with four homers, seven RBI and seven thefts through 99 plate appearances.