MLB Player News
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Nick Madrigal 3B | LAA
Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Sitting Sunday
Madrigal is not in the starting lineup Sunday versus the Diamondbacks.
Madrigal will get a breather after he went 2-for-8 with a run scored over the first two games of the series. Patrick Wisdom will take over at third base and bat eighth in the series finale.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Still sitting Sunday
Baty (groin) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
The 23-year-old will sit for the third consecutive game as he continues to nurse a mild groin injury. Mark Vientos will receive another look at the hot corner in Baty's place while Brandon Nimmo rests his legs as the Mets' designated hitter.
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Ryan McMahon 3B | NYY
Rockies' Ryan McMahon: On bench Sunday
McMahon is not in the lineup Sunday versus the Giants.
McMahon, who did not play in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, will not start for the second consecutive game. The third baseman has played in 143 of the Rockies' 148 games, but he will sit out consecutive contests for the first time this season. Alan Trejo will start in the 28-year-old's place.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Marlins' Jake Burger: Homers, tallies three hits
Burger went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double and three runs scored in Saturday's 11-5 victory over Atlanta.
Burger reached base and came around to score in each of his first two trips to the plate before adding a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to put the Marlins on top 7-5. It marked the third baseman's third consecutive multi-hit game, while the home run was his 32nd of the season. Burger continues to perform at a high level since being acquired by Miami at the start of August. He's racked up four homers, eight RBI and 11 runs scored through 15 games in September.
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Evan Longoria 3B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Evan Longoria: Draws walk, scores winning run
Longoria entered as a pinch hitter, walked and scored a run in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Cubs.
Longoria pinch hit for Alek Thomas in the bottom of the 13th inning and eventually made it to second base, from where he raced home on a Gabriel Moreno single to score the game-winning run. Longoria adjusted his slide at the last moment to avoid the catcher's tag. It was a rare highlight in the third baseman's recent performance. Longoria is 7-for-43 over 16 games since returning from a back injury in August, and Saturday's run is the only one he's scored during that stretch.
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Ryan McMahon 3B | NYY
Rockies' Ryan McMahon: Sitting for second game
McMahon is not in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Giants.
McMahon was in the lineup and hit cleanup for the first game, but he wore the platinum sombrero and struck out in all five of his plate ppearances. Alan Trejo will take over at third base while hitting eighth in the second contest.
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Andruw Monasterio DH | BOS
Brewers' Andruw Monasterio: Day off Saturday
Monasterio will sit Saturday against the Nationals.
Monasterio has settled into an everyday role in the second half, with Saturday's off day being just his third since the break. His bat has been sub-par for an everyday corner infielder, however, as his .270/.344/.369 slash line is good for a modest 97 wRC+. Josh Donaldson will take over at the hot corner Saturday.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Remains out
Baty (groin) remains on the bench Saturday against Cincinnati.
Baty is dealing with a groin strain, which is considered mild but is costing him key at-bats as he looks to make his case for a starting role next season. The battle for playing time at the hot corner in Queens seems wide open, with both Baty (.596 OPS in 97 games) and Mark Vientos (.588 OPS in 51 games) failing to stake their claim. Fellow rookie Ronny Mauricio (.743 OPS in 11 games) will start at third base Saturday.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Gets Saturday off
Machado will be on the bench for Saturday's game against Oakland.
Machado finds himself on the bench for the third time in six games. That might be related to the elbow soreness that has limited him to designated hitter duty throughout September; with the Padres now 6.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, they aren't incentivized to push Machado at all and risk further injury. Luis Campusano will be the designated hitter Saturday, with Brett Sullivan taking Campusano's usual spot behind the plate.