MLB Player News
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Javier Sanoja 3B | MIA
Marlins' Javier Sanoja: Taking seat in series opener
Sanoja is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.
Maximo Acosta will get the nod at third base Monday in place of Sanoja, who went 6-for-15 with a home run, a double, a walk, a stolen base, four RBI and three runs while starting in each of the previous four games. Until Miami gets one of Connor Norby (wrist) or Graham Pauley (oblique) back from the injured list, Sanoja looks primed to serve as the Marlins' top option at the hot corner.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Idle against southpaw
Baty is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
The left-handed-hitting Baty had started in each of the Mets' last eight games -- including two against left-handed pitchers -- but he'll hit the bench Monday while the Phillies send southpaw Cristopher Sanchez to the bump. Though the Mets could continue to be selective about using Baty versus lefties, the 25-year-old is one of the hottest hitters in the lineup and appears to have solidified himself as a mainstay in the starting nine against righties. Since the beginning of August, Baty is slashing a sizzling .321/.390/.566 with four home runs and one stolen base in 16 games.
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Giants' Matt Chapman: Doubles in win
Chapman went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
Chapman doubled in the ninth inning before coming around to score the game-tying run. In two outings since returning from a minimum stay on the 10-day injured list due to right hand inflammation, the third baseman has tallied two runs scored, two walks, a double and a stolen base across nine plate appearances. Overall, he's slashing .227/.337/.420 with 55 runs scored, 44 RBI, 16 home runs, 16 doubles and eight stolen bases in 412 plate appearances this season.
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Matt Shaw 3B | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Returns to lineup with two hits
Shaw went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Angels.
Shaw was not in the startling lineup Saturday, but he returned Sunday and made his mark from the No. 9 spot in the order. The rookie was out of the lineup twice in the previous three days, with Willi Castro getting the start at the hot corner each time. Shaw has mostly played well since the All-Star break and should continue to see regular playing time, through it does appear that the Cubs want to find ways to get Castro into the lineup, which could come at Shaw's expense.
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Mark Vientos 3B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Homers again in loss
Vientos went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Atlanta.
Vientos followed up Saturday's two-homer game with a two-run blast in the second inning to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak that's produced five home runs, two doubles and 11 RBI. For the year, he's slashing .238/.284/.412 with 12 long balls, 43 RBI and 31 runs scored across 349 plate appearances.
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Will Wagner 3B | SD
Padres' Will Wagner: Recalled as Merrill replacement
The Padres recalled Wagner from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.
Acquired from the Blue Jays on July 31, Wagner was subsequently optioned to El Paso, where he slashed .270/.333/.405 with two home runs and one stolen base in 17 games. He's been recalled from Triple-A to replace Jackson Merrill (ankle) on the active roster, though Gavin Sheets is the likelier candidate to benefit from regular playing time while Merrill is on the shelf. Wagner, meanwhile, will bolster the Padres' infield depth but likely won't be in store for steady starts.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Reds' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Extends hit streak
Hayes went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Hayes extended his hit streak to seven straight games and has reached base safely in 11 consecutive starts. It's an encouraging stretch for the third baseman, who got off to a slow start after joining the Reds at the trade deadline, batting .167 (5-for-30) over his first nine games in Cincinnati. Over the subsequent 12 contests, Hayes is slashing .378/.465/.649 with seven extra-base hits, three RBI and nine runs scored. While the improvement is welcome, past history suggests Hayes is closer to the hitter he showed during that initial stretch for the Reds.
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Blaze Alexander 3B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Breaks out of funk
Alexander went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and an additional run scored in Saturday's 10-1 win over Cincinnati.
Alexander broke out of a slump Saturday, contributing a run-scoring, ground-rule double in the first inning and a solo homer in the fifth. The infielder was 3-for-32 (.094) with zero RBI over the previous nine games. Since taking over the role as the team's primary third baseman, Alexander is slashing .247/.344/.481 with five home runs, four doubles and 11 RBI over 23 contests.
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Mark Vientos 3B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Continues surge with two homers
Vientos went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs in Saturday's 9-2 win over Atlanta.
The 25-year-old slugger had arguably his best game of the season Saturday, going deep in the seventh and the ninth innings to give him 11 homers and his first three-hit game of the year. Vientos has been swinging a hot bat over his last six games, going 9-for-24 (.375) with four homers and nine RBI in that span. The third baseman is starting to resemble the hitter who tallied 27 home runs across 111 games just a year ago.
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Alex Freeland 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Alex Freeland: Homers off bench in loss
Freeland hit a solo home run in his lone at-bat during Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Padres.
Freeland, a switch hitter, has largely been held out of the lineup versus southpaws, and that was true Saturday against San Diego lefty Nestor Cortes. Freeland ended up providing the Dodgers' lone run -- and second and final hit -- when he went yard off Jeremiah Estrada as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. This was Freeland's second homer in as many days and his fifth extra-base hits over his last six contests. The young infielder is batting .241 with a .776 OPS, six RBI, 10 runs scored and a stolen base through 70 plate appearances.