MLB Player News
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LuJames Groover 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' LuJames Groover: Hitless in debut
Groover went 0-for-4 in Friday's 14-1 loss to the Nationals in his major-league debut.
Groover is set for a short-side platoon role as a corner infielder. The 24-year-old hit .322 with an .873 OPS, three home runs, 39 RBI, 37 runs scored, 16 doubles, one triple and two stolen bases over 56 games prior to his call-up. Groover could challenge Ildemaro Vargas for playing time at first base, and he also offers some cover at third if Nolan Arenado needs to rest his legs.
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Coby Mayo 3B | BAL
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Belts two-run homer off Yesavage
Mayo went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored during the Orioles' 13-3 win over the Blue Jays on Friday.
Mayo put the exclamation point on the Orioles' five-run sixth inning with a 396-foot, two-run home run off Trey Yesavage. It was the eighth home run of the season for Mayo, three of which have come over his last seven games. He has logged at least one hit in seven of his last eight games, and over that span he has gone 8-for-29 with five extra-base hits, seven RBI and nine runs scored.
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Junior Caminero 3B | TB
Rays' Junior Caminero: Scores three runs Friday
Caminero went 3-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and three runs scored during the Rays' 6-0 win over the Marlins on Friday.
Caminero reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances Friday and came home to score in the first, fifth and seventh innings. His three hits were a season high, and it was his 16th multi-hit game of the year. Caminero is on a seven-game hitting streak, and in that span he has gone 12-for-24 with nine runs, three RBI and six extra-base hits.
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Giants' Matt Chapman: Powers rout with eight RBI
Chapman went 2-for-3 with two home runs and eight RBI in Friday's 18-3 rout of the Cubs.
The veteran third baseman came into the game with just two long balls on the season, but he doubled that total with a grand slam in the fourth inning off Edward Cabrera and a three-run blast in the sixth off Ethan Roberts. Chapman added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. It's been a tough season so far for Chapman, but over his last 16 games he's batting .310 (18-for-58) with five doubles and three of his four homers, along with an 8:8 BB:K. He's averaged 23.8 home runs over the previous five years, and Friday's massive performance could signal to beginning of a summer surge.
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LuJames Groover 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' LuJames Groover: Called up to big leagues
The Diamondbacks selected Groover's contract from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Groover is set to make his major-league debut after slashing .322/.421/.452 with three home runs, two stolen bases and a 37:43 BB:K over 56 contests for Reno. The 24-year-old has played both corner-infield spots at Reno this season, and the right-handed batter will likely see starts against left-handed hurlers.
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Maikel Garcia 3B | KC
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Remains out of lineup Friday
Garcia (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Twins.
Garcia is missing his sixth straight start, though he was able to pinch hit in Thursday's 8-6 win over the Twins. With Garcia absent from the starting nine, Nick Loftin is starting at third base and batting eighth against right-hander Zebby Matthews.
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Leonardo Jimenez 3B | MIA
Marlins' Leo Jimenez: Taking seat Friday
Jimenez is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Rays.
Jimenez had started two of the last three games versus right-handed pitching, but he'll take a seat in this one as the Rays send righty Drew Rasmussen to the bump. It will be Javier Sanoja handling third base in the series opener.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Up to 11 homers
Machado went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday in a loss to Philadelphia.
Machado struck out twice in the contest, but he also provided half of the Padres' runs with his blast in the seventh inning. The star third baseman began the campaign very slowly, batting .198 with just two home runs over his first 25 games. However, Machado has picked up the pace in the power department since then, going deep nine times across his subsequent 34 contests. He's otherwise still looking for his swing, though, batting just .157 during that span, and his .174 batting average on the season is the second-worst mark among qualified MLB hitters.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Has sore nose, won't play Friday
Muncy passed concussion testing Thursday and has been diagnosed with a sore nose, but he will not play Friday against the Angels, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
It can be viewed as good news for Muncy after he was involved in a big collision at first base with Ildemaro Vargas in the fifth inning of Thursday's 3-2 loss to Arizona. With lefty Reid Detmers getting the start for the Angels against the Dodgers on Friday, it makes sense to give Muncy another day to rest. Santiago Espinal came on to play third base following Muncy's departure Thursday.