MLB Player News
-
Tony Kemp 2B | MIN
Athletics' Tony Kemp: Swipes base Friday
Kemp went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Mets on Friday.
Kemp was able to make a modest impact from the top of the order and rewarded fantasy managers with his second stolen base of the season in the process. The 31-year-old is carrying just a .213 average and .564 OPS through 55 plate appearances, but he's now reached safely in four straight games.
-
Josh Rojas 3B | CHW
Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas: In against lefty
Rojas started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 in Friday's 5-1 loss to Miami.
Rojas was in the starting lineup for the second time this season against a lefty (Trevor Rogers). Kyle Lewis (illness) opened the season as the DH against southpaws, but he remains out, so manager Torey Lovullo opted for Rojas, who entered the contest with a .412 average and 1.006 OPS.
-
Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: Big night in Detroit
Estrada went 3-for-5 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 7-5 extra-innings loss to the Tigers.
Getting the start in left field for the banged-up Giants, Estrada led off the game with his third homer of the season, crushing a 3-2 fastball from Joey Wentz over the wall in center field. Estrada has gone yard in back-to-back games and has produced multi-hit performances in six of 12 contests so far, leading to a .370/.420/.630 slash line that also features six RBI, nine runs and two stolen bases.
-
Nolan Gorman 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Knocks in two
Gorman went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's 3-0 win over the Pirates.
Gorman had a pair of RBI singles, providing the Cardinals' first and last runs of the game. The 22-year-old is still hitting excellently to begin 2023, though this was just his third multi-hit effort. He's up to a .333/.447/.692 slash line with four home runs, 12 RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base through 47 plate appearances.
-
Elvis Andrus 2B | ARI
White Sox's Elvis Andrus: Doubles twice Friday
Andrus went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored Friday against the Orioles.
Andrus began a rally in the sixth inning when he led off with a double and came around to score. He was in need of a strong performance, as he now has only two games with multiple hits across his 14 starts this season. Overall, Andrus has just a .173/.200/.231 line across 55 plate appearances, though he has a .209 BABIP and is striking out at a very reasonable 18.2 percent clip.
-
Andres Gimenez SS | TOR
Guardians' Andres Gimenez: Notches fourth steal
Gimenez went 0-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 4-3 win over the Nationals.
While Gimenez went hitless for the third time in his last four games, he picked up his second steal in that span. The second baseman is up to four thefts in 14 contests. He's added a solid .291/.361/.436 slash line with a home run, five RBI and 15 runs scored. He's moved around the lineup a bit against right-handed pitchers, hitting fifth in four of nine such games. The struggles of Josh Bell, Josh Naylor and Amed Rosario could lead to Gimenez moving up the order eventually.
-
Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: At leadoff again Friday
Estrada is batting leadoff for a second straight game Friday against the Tigers. He's hit leadoff in four of his last five starts, all versus lefties.
Estrada is also making his first start in left field. The dynamic 27-year-old went 2-for-4 with a homer and a walk during his last turn at leadoff Wednesday versus the Dodgers. He boasts a .341./386/.537 slash line through 44 plate appearances coming off his mini breakout in 2022. Southpaw Joey Wentz is on the mound for Detroit on Friday.
-
Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Blue Jays' Whit Merrifield: Not starting Friday
Merrifield isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Friday against the Rays.
After going 4-for-12 at the plate with three RBI in his last three games, Merrifield will get a breather Friday. Santiago Espinal will start at second base instead and bat seventh.
-
David Hensley 1B | DET
Astros' David Hensley: Starting at DH
Hensley is starting at designated hitter and batting sixth for the Astros in Friday's game against the Rangers.
Hensley isn't playing much at second base, with Mauricio Dubon emerging as the clear preferred option to fill in for Jose Altuve (thumb). He has started each of the last two contests at DH versus lefties, though, and will continue to fill in at various positions.