MLB Player News
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Gio Urshela 3B | MIN
Angels' Gio Urshela: Handling utility role
Urshela is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
On the bench for the fourth time in six games, Urshela looks to have moved into a utility role in the wake of Anthony Rendon's recent return from the 10-day injured list. Since Urshela has performed at just below a league-average level as a hitter (97 wRC+, .313 woBA) this season and is capable of playing all four infield spots, he should still be in line for a handful of starts per week.
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Ramon Urias 3B | STL
Orioles' Ramon Urias: Four hits in Sunday's win
Urias went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-3 win over the Royals.
Urias was 3-for-26 (.115) over his first 10 games back from the injured list, but he's gone 7-for-13 (.538) in his last three contests. The infielder has started to see his playing time slip despite his strong defense, though he did make an error Sunday. He's at a solid .272/.349/.404 slash line with two home runs, three stolen bases, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored through 43 games this season. He should continue to be an option all around the infield, while Jorge Mateo's slump at the plate could ultimately help Urias get in the lineup more often.
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Gunnar Henderson SS | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Strong again in win
Henderson went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 11-3 win over the Royals.
Henderson has homered in three of his last four games and has multiple hits in three straight. The 21-year-old infielder has hit atop the order two games in a row, and his success in that spot suggests he could stay there while Cedric Mullins (groin) is on the mend. Henderson is up to a .236/.349/.455 slash line with nine homers, four stolen bases, 21 RBI and 34 runs scored through 57 contests.
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Blue Jays' Matt Chapman: Slugs ninth homer
Chapman went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Twins.
He took Louie Varland deep in the fifth inning for a two-run shot, helping fuel a Jays comeback from a 6-1 deficit. Chapman has predictably cooled off after his blistering start to the season, and over his last 20 games he's slashing just .194/.277/.417, albeit with four of his nine homers on the year.
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Jean Segura 3B | CLE
Marlins' Jean Segura: Finally goes yard
Segura went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the White Sox.
His ninth-inning blast off Kendall Graveman was huge for the Marlins in a comeback win, and it was also Segura's first long ball of 2023. Miami has stuck with the struggling veteran, but so far the team's patience hasn't been rewarded -- over his last 20 games, Segura is slashing a paltry .186/.250/.271.
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Ryan McMahon 3B | NYY
Rockies' Ryan McMahon: Swats 10th homer
McMahon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Padres.
McMahon took Tom Cosgrove deep with rain coming down at Coors Field. The game went into a rain delay after McMahon's tying blast in the ninth inning. While he's slowed down slightly in the last week, the infielder has hit six of his 10 homers over his last 16 contests, a span in which he's batting .369 (24-for-65). He's slashing .261/.335/.479 with 37 RBI, 35 runs scored and four stolen bases through 65 games overall in a near-everyday role.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Gets aboard four times
De La Cruz went 2-for-3 with two walks, one RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cardinals.
De La Cruz has hit safely in each of his first six major-league games (8-for-22), and this was his second multi-hit effort. He's also posted a reasonable 5:10 BB:K through 27 plate appearances, showing some decent plate discipline for a rookie. Pitchers may eventually figure him out, but the Reds called him up because he's ready, so he should see consistent playing time -- he's played four times at third base and twice at shortstop so far. The top prospect already has three stolen bases in the majors after swiping 11 bags over 38 games for Triple-A Louisville.
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Jeimer Candelario 3B | LAA
Nationals' Jeimer Candelario: Hits go-ahead two-run homer
Candelario went 1-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's victory over Atlanta.
Candelario's two-run homer gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead in the sixth and marked the third baseman's first long ball of June. Coming into the contest, the 29-year-old had just one hit in his last 20 at-bats, so his production Sunday could be a sign he's turning things around. Candelario has played in 61 of the team's first 64 contests, so he figures to get plenty of opportunities to snap out of his recent offensive slump.
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Nick Madrigal 3B | LAA
Cubs' Nick Madrigal: Nabs third straight start
Madrigal will start at third base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Giants.
He'll pick up a third consecutive start despite having gotten on base at a .286 clip through his first two contests since being promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Friday. The Cubs have an opening in the lineup at the moment while Seiya Suzuki (undisclosed) tends to a minor injury, but once Suzuki is healthy, Madrigal will have to battle Trey Mancini or Christopher Morel for one spot in Chicago's everyday lineup.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Sitting Sunday
Rendon is not in the starting lineup Sunday versus the Mariners, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rendon will get a day off after he went 1-for-7 with a double and two runs scored over the first two games of the series with Seattle. Luis Rengifo will take over at the hot corner and bat seventh in the rubber match.