MLB Player News
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Delivers walk-off hit Tuesday
Shaw went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-innings win over Colorado.
Shaw's second hit of the day ended the game in the bottom of the 11th inning, bringing across Jon Berti with the winning run. The rookie infielder has been much better in his second stint in the majors, slashing .355/.412/.516 with four steals in eight games since getting recalled from Triple-A Iowa on May 19. Shaw should remain Chicago's primary third baseman as long as he's productive at the plate.
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Oswald Peraza 3B | LAA
Yankees' Oswald Peraza: Goes deep in win
Peraza went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and walk in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Angels.
The utilityman crushed a line-drive homer to center field off Hector Neris in the seventh inning, providing a key insurance run that helped secure the win. It's been tough sledding for the 24-year-old, who's slashing just .203/.283/.322 with eight extra-base hits over 79 at-bats this season. The injury to third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera on May 12 opened up more playing time for Peraza, but he hasn't capitalized on the opportunity. Tuesday's home run was a positive sign, but the Yankees will likely continue exploring both internal and external options to maximize production at the hot corner.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Stays hot with RBI, stolen base
Jung went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Toronto.
Although Jung's seven-game hitting streak came to an end Monday, he got back into the RBI column for the first time in his last eight outings Tuesday. The 27-year-old third baseman has been a key cog in Texas' lineup this season, and he's batting a strong .306 (22-for-72) with five home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored over his last 20 games. Jung's stolen base was his fourth of the year, so he's providing a decent combination of pop and speed at the hot corner.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Goes deep, swipes bag
Muncy went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's win against Cleveland.
Muncy drew a leadoff walk, swiped second base and scored a run in the second inning. His big moment of the night came in the ninth inning when he belted a three-run insurance shot. Muncy was stuck in a 5-for-26 (.192) skid since his last home run May 15. The veteran slugger is now slashing .212/.337/.345 with 24 RBI and four home runs this season.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Sitting amid slump
Lewis is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Rays, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old started the previous 10 games but will take a seat Tuesday while in the midst of an 0-for-18 slump. Jonah Bride will step in at the hot corner and bat seventh against Tampa Bay righty Taj Bradley while Lewis gets a day to reset.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Back in action
Arenado (ribs) is starting at third base and batting sixth Tuesday against the Orioles.
As expected, Arenado is back in action after sitting out Monday to rest after he fell into the crowd to make a catch Sunday. Arenado has never hit lower than .253 over a full MLB season, but his average sits at .234 entering play Tuesday. The 34-year-old third baseman has provided five home runs, 23 runs, 25 RBI and one steal in 49 games.
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Josh Rojas 3B | CHW
White Sox's Josh Rojas: Struggling to get going
Rojas went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base Monday against the Mets.
Rojas has maintained a near everyday role for the White Sox at a combination of second and third base since being activated from the injured list May 4. He managed his second stolen base of the season Monday, though he still has only one hit across his last 18 at-bats -- spanning eight games. Rojas has struggled to find a rhythm at the plate overall by hitting just .140 with no extra-base hits across 57 plate appearances, and his strikeout rate has notably surged to 33.3 percent.
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Giants' Matt Chapman: Scores in loss
Chapman went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk in Monday's 3-1 loss to Detroit.
Chapman singled to center field in the sixth inning before coming around to score San Francisco's lone run. The third baseman has recorded both a hit and a walk in four of his last five games, slashing .235/.381/.412 with three runs scored, a home run and a 9.5 percent strikeout rate during that span. The 32-year-old is now slashing .218/.341/.399 with 28 runs scored, 25 RBI, nine homers, seven doubles and five stolen bases across 223 plate appearances this season.
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Connor Norby 2B | MIA
Marlins' Connor Norby: Two more hits Monday
Norby went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Monday's extra-innings loss to the Padres.
The 24-year-old infielder has caught fire in the second half of May, hitting safely in 10 straight starts while batting .378 (14-for-37) with three doubles, a homer, three runs and nine RBI. The surge has pushed Norby's slash line on the season to .294/.333/.454, as he begins to deliver on the promise he showed as an Orioles prospect prior to being traded south last July.
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Ildemaro Vargas 2B | ARI
Ildemaro Vargas: Headed for free agency
Vargas opted out of his minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday and became a free agent, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Vargas had attended spring training with Arizona as a non-roster invitee before reporting to Triple-A Reno after being informed that he wouldn't be included on the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster. Despite producing a respectable .261/.330/.397 slash line to go with five home runs and four steals over his 221 plate appearances at Reno, Vargas was passed over for a promotion to the big club in favor of younger options in Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar when the Diamondbacks had needs for utility infielders. The 33-year-old Vargas shouldn't have too much difficulty landing a minor-league deal elsewhere with an organization that can present him with a clearer path to getting another look in the majors at some point later on this season.