MLB Player News
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Jose Miranda 3B | MIN
Twins' Jose Miranda: Another three hits, three RBI
Miranda went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Diamondbacks while also drawing a walk.
Miranda kicked off the scoring for Minnesota with a three-run double in the second and went on to reach base four times in the contest -- which he's now done twice in his last three games. It marked the third time that the third baseman has driven in three runs and logged multiple hits over his last five contests, increasing his average to .329 in June. Miranda has also drawn a walk in four straight games.
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Santiago Espinal 2B | LAD
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Gets another turn at 3B
Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh.
Espinal started at third base for the seventh time in the last eight games, as Jeimer Candelario's knee and hamstring issues are impacting his usage. Candelario, who sat out Wednesday, has been used at first base or DH in four of his last five games. Espinal is 5-for-25 with a walk, a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored over his last seven games.
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Oliver Dunn 2B | CHW
Brewers' Oliver Dunn: Lands on IL with back strain
The Brewers recalled Dunn from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday and placed him on the 10-day injured list with a back strain.
Dunn was optioned to Nashville last week, but it turns out that he had been dealing with a back injury so he will go on the IL instead. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined, but the infielder could be optioned again once he's healthy.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Homers, steals base in loss
Arias went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a stolen base against Baltimore in a loss Wednesday.
Arias accounted for two of Cleveland's five hits in the defeat and plated the team's final run with his fifth-inning solo homer. The utility man has perked up at the plate of late, batting an even .400 (10-for-25) with a pair of long balls and five RBI over his past nine games. Arias missed some time due to a family medical emergency during that span and isn't an everyday player for the Guardians, so the hot stretch extends back to the beginning of June.
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Jhonkensy Noel OF | BAL
Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel: Homers in first big-league at-bat
Noel went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Orioles.
Noel enjoyed a storybook first big-league plate appearance, blasting a solo shot 413 feet to center field. The 22-year-old was promoted from Triple-A earlier in the day after blazing to a .295/.359/.578 slash line with 18 homers and 59 RBI over 65 games with Columbus. Noel's power is unquestioned -- he went deep 27 times at Triple-A last season -- though he has had some strikeout issues during his time in the minors. There isn't an obvious path to everyday at-bats with the big club, but if Joel is productive, he could work his way into fairly regular playing time by moving between first base, the corner-outfield spots and designated hitter.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | ARI
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Quiet in return
Arenado went 1-for-8 over both games of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.
Arenado played all 18 innings Wednesday at third base in his return from a left forearm injury. He didn't make much of an impact at the plate, but it's encouraging to see the 33-year-old play both halves of the twin bill. He's down to a .254/.310/.364 slash line with six home runs, 32 RBI, 26 runs scored and one stolen base over 73 contests this year. The Cardinals have occasionally used Brandon Crawford and Brendan Donovan at the hot corner, and they could continue to be an option there if Arenado is out of the lineup or limited to designated hitter at any point in the future, as his forearm issue is believed to be a lingering one.
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Cavan Biggio RF | HOU
Dodgers' Cavan Biggio: Taking seat Wednesday
Biggio is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
The lefty-hitting Biggio has typically only sat against left-handed starting pitchers since joining the Dodgers earlier this month, but he'll hit the bench Wednesday while right-hander Erick Fedde takes the hill for the White Sox. Enrique Hernandez steps in for Biggio at third base.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Managing neck issue
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Ortiz was removed from Wednesday's win over the Rangers due to a neck injury, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The injury apparently surfaced during last week's series against the Angels, and it prompted his removal from Wednesday's contest in the sixth inning after going 0-for-2. Ortiz's ability to play through the issue indicates it isn't a serious concern, so he could be back in action Friday versus the Cubs following Thursday's team off day.
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Addison Barger 3B | TOR
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Heading back to bench Wednesday
Barger is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Barger will take a seat after he had started in eight of the Blue Jays' past 10 games, with five of those assignments coming at third base and the other three in the corner outfield. With Bo Bichette returning from the injured list Tuesday, Barger's opportunities to play in the infield will become more limited moving forward, but he could still push Davis Schneider or George Springer for the occasional start in left or right field.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Leaves with apparent injury
Ortiz was removed from Wednesday's game versus the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth inning with an apparent injury, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. He went hitless in two at-bats before leaving the game.
Ortiz ran into the tarp while chasing after a pop-up in the top of the sixth, and though he initially stayed in the game, he was lifted in favor of a pinch hitter in the bottom of the frame. It's not clear yet what injury Ortiz might be dealing with, but the Brewers should offer more clarity soon.