MLB Player News
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Zach McKinstry 3B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Idle against lefty
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
The left-handed-hitting McKinstry will take a seat for the second time in the series while the Phillies send another southpaw (Cristopher Sanchez) to the hill. With McKinstry on the bench, Javier Baez will cover shortstop, and Matt Vierling will serve as the Tigers' starting center fielder.
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Josh Rojas 3B | CHW
White Sox's Josh Rojas: Nabbing fourth straight start
Rojas will start at second base and will bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Angels.
He will cover second base Sunday while Chase Meidroth (thumb) is on the bench for the third game in a row, but Rojas could be in store for regular playing time at third base once Meidroth rejoins the lineup. Rojas had started in each of the previous three contests, going 2-for-10 with a solo home run, a double and a walk.
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Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
Angels' Yoan Moncada: On bench in Moore's return
Moncada is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
After missing three straight games due to a hand injury, Moncada returned to the lineup Wednesday and went 1-for-9 with a walk and a run while starting at third base in each of the subsequent three contests. With the Angels bringing back Christian Moore (thumb) from the injured list Sunday, he'll step in at second base while Luis Rengifo shifts over to the hot corner, leaving no room in the lineup for Moncada. In an effort to open up steady at-bats for all of Moore, Moncada and Rengifo, the Angels could opt for something resembling a three-man committee between the second- and third-base spots for the foreseeable future.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Sitting again Sunday
Jung (calf) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Jung finds himself on the bench for a fourth consecutive game as he continues to manage calf soreness. Josh Smith will pick up another start at the hot corner, opening up first base for Rowdy Tellez.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Getting Sunday off
Shaw is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Shaw had started at third base in seven straight games, but he'll cede the hot corner to Willi Castro on Sunday. Since the All-Star break, Shaw has produced a 1.014 OPS, but he'll need to maintain that improved level of production to stave off Castro for a regular spot in the lineup.
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Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Departs due to abdominal pain
Riley was removed from Sunday's game against the Reds due to lower abdominal pain.
Sunday was slated to be an off day for Cincinnati and Atlanta, but the two clubs instead resumed Saturday's MLB Speedway Classic after the game was suspended in the first inning due to rain. Riley struck out swinging Saturday before the game was halted, and he was replaced by Luke Williams before coming up to the plate Sunday. The severity of the injury remains unclear, and Riley should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus Milwaukee. Given that Riley was reinstated July 25 following a stint on the injured list due to a lower abdominal strain, it's worrisome that he's seemingly dealing with a recurrence of the injury just over a week later.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Taking seat Sunday
Baty is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Baty will head to the bench for the second time in the series, with both of his absences coming against left-handed starters. He could be at risk of losing out on starts versus right-handers, too, as Jeff McNeil will see more time in the infield after the Mets acquired center fielder Cedric Mullins from the Orioles on Thursday, giving Ronny Mauricio one fewer path to playing time. Baty, Mauricio and Mark Vientos will battle for starts at third base, but Mauricio's .886 OPS this season against righties is well ahead of Baty's .729 OPS in that split.
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Ronny Mauricio 2B | NYM
Mets' Ronny Mauricio: On bench for series finale
Mauricio is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Mauricio will head to the bench while Mark Vientos starts at third base Sunday. The acquisition of Cedric Mullins at the trade deadline will limit Jeff McNeil to primarily second base, and in turn, Mauricio could be part of a committee at the hot corner with Vientos and Brett Baty.
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Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Out with oblique strain
The White Sox placed Vargas on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a left oblique strain.
Vargas was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's 1-0 win due to the injury and will be sidelined for at least another nine days, though he doesn't have an official timeline for his return. Curtis Mead was called up from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move and could see time at first base while Vargas is out.
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Brady House SS | WAS
Nationals' Brady House: Taking seat Sunday
House is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
After tying a career high with three hits in a July 22 win over the Reds, House has fallen into a 5-for-30 skid at the plate while striking out 11 times over his last eight games. Jose Tena will step in at third base Sunday in place of House, who will hit the bench for the second time in four games amid his rough stretch at the dish.