MLB Player News
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Keys big first inning with homer
Langeliers went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Monday's 6-4 win over the Rays.
Langeliers, playing in his first game since June 5 after an oblique injury, homered in his first at-bat back with two men on to give the Athletics an early 3-0 lead before they even took the field. As one of five players with 10 or more home runs on the team, his bat is a welcome addition back to the lineup. Another encouraging sign is that the 27-year-old put the ball in play every at-bat. Strikeouts have been an issue for the backstop, who's struck out at least once in 12 of his last 14 games, dating back to before his injury.
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Chadwick Tromp C | BAL
Orioles' Chadwick Tromp: Leaves with back tightness
Tromp exited Monday night's game against the Blue Jays with lower back tightness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Gary Sanchez moved from designated hitter to catcher in the bottom of the third inning, and starting pitcher Trevor Rogers entered the lineup in the nine spot. Prior to leaving, Tromp went 0-for-1 at the plate. With both Adley Rutschman (oblique) and Maverick Handley (concussion) on the injured list, Sanchez looks likely to handle catching duties for Baltimore in the immediate future.
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Freddy Fermin C | SD
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Heading to bench Monday
Fermin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Fermin started in three of the Royals' last four contests, but he'll take a seat Monday while Salvador Perez checks back in behind the plate after he had made two of his previous three starts at first base. Though Fermin will likely play more frequently than most No. 2 backstops around the league, his fantasy upside is fairly limited while he offers little power and speed and often hits near the bottom of the lineup.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Out due to finger issue
Wells will be unavailable through Tuesday's game versus the Blue Jays due to a circulation issue in a finger on his left hand, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Wells underwent tests to rule out blood clots, and those came back negative. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expects Wells to be back in the lineup Wednesday. J.C. Escarra will start at catcher Monday and will do so again Tuesday.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Sitting in second straight game
Wells is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
The left-handed-hitting Wells will remain on the bench for the second time in as many days, with both of his absences coming against right-handed pitchers. After Ben Rice picked up the start behind the dish in Sunday's 12-5 win over the Athletics, J.C. Escarra will handle catching duties for the series opener in Toronto. Since matching a season high with five RBI in a June 10 win over the Royals, Wells is slashing just .159/.191/.205 over a stretch of 13 games.
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J.C. Escarra C | NYY
Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Filling in for resting Wells
Escarra (personal) will start at catcher and bat eighth Monday against the Blue Jays.
Though the Yankees never officially placed him on the paternity list, Escarra was away from the club for a few days to observe the birth of his child before he returned to the bench for Sunday's 12-5 win over the Athletics. Escarra caught the final two innings of that contest and will now pick up his 20th start of the season Monday while top backstop Austin Wells rests.
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Austin Wynns C | TEX
Athletics' Austin Wynns: On bench in Langeliers' return
Wynns is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.
Wynns had been splitting playing time at catcher with Willie MacIver for the past three weeks while Shea Langeliers (oblique) was on the injured list, but Wynns' modest role is likely to become even smaller after the Athletics activated Langeliers on Monday. Though he ended up sticking on the 26-man active roster over MacIver -- who was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas -- Wynns is likely to make just one or two starts per week now that Langeliers is back with the big club.
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Willie MacIver C | TOR
Athletics' Willie MacIver: Dispatched back to Triple-A
The Athletics optioned MacIver to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
With Shea Langeliers (oblique) back from the 10-day injured list, MacIver's presence with the big club was no longer needed. He acquitted himself well during his first stint in the majors, posting a .737 OPS with a couple homers in 16 contests.
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Back from oblique injury
The Athletics activated Langeliers (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start at catcher and bat fifth in the Athletics' series opener at Tampa Bay.
Langeliers has missed the last three-plus weeks with a left oblique strain but is ready to roll after going 8-for-13 with one home run in three rehab games with Triple-A Las Vegas. Fellow catcher Willie MacIver was optioned to Las Vegas in a corresponding move.
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Willie MacIver C | TOR
Athletics' Willie MacIver: Smacks second homer
MacIver went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a pair of walks in Sunday's 12-5 loss to the Yankees.
MacIver got the A's on the board in the fifth inning with his solo shot off Marcus Stroman, his second big-league homer. The 28-year-old rookie has been productive of late, going 5-for-14 with a pair of homers and four extra-base hits in his last five games as he continues to split catching duties with Austin Wynns while Shea Langeliers (oblique) is sidelined.