MLB Player News
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Resting after big Saturday
Baldwin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Baldwin will get a chance to catch his breath after he started the first four games of the series, including both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, while going 7-for-17 with two home runs, one walk, 10 RBI and four runs. Sean Murphy will handle catching duties and Marcell Ozuna will get the nod at designated hitter.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Receiving Sunday off
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Stephenson will exit the lineup for the second time in the four-game series, paving the way for Jose Trevino to receive another turn behind the dish. Though he's striking out at a 33 percent clip dating back to the beginning of July, Stephenson has managed to maintain a .260 batting average during that time while providing three home runs, 11 RBI and 11 runs in 24 games.
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Jose Trevino C | CIN
Reds' Jose Trevino: Filling in for resting Stephenson
Trevino will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
With top backstop Tyler Stephenson receiving the afternoon off, Trevino will pick up his second start behind the plate in the four-game series. Since the All-Star break, Trevino has gone 3-for-27 (.111 average) with one RBI and one run in eight games.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Playing in camp games
Moreno (finger) has recently resumed participating in simulated games at the Diamondbacks' spring training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
Moreno has been on the shelf since the middle of June and will likely require a rehab assignment before being activated from the 60-day injured list. He's eligible to rejoin the Diamondbacks on Aug. 18, but it's not clear yet if he'll be a realistic option to return on that date.
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Drake Baldwin C | ATL
Braves' Drake Baldwin: Plates five runs across twin bill
Baldwin went a combined 4-for-9 with two runs and five RBI across both games of a doubleheader sweep of Miami on Saturday.
Baldwin started at DH in the matinee before moving behind the plate for the nightcap. He was productive in both contests, driving in two runs in Game 1 and three more in Game 2. The first-year backstop has a pair of five-RBI performances across his past three games to go along with his six-RBI effort July 21 against San Francisco. He continues to be a strong contender for NL Rookie of the Year honors with a .289/.357/.477 slash line, 13 homers, 31 runs and 51 RBI over 86 games.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Hits 10th homer win
Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Mets.
Contreras capped a four-run seventh inning with a two-run blast off Ryan Helsley. It was a much-needed performance for the catcher, who had been mired in a 1-for-22 slump since last homering in a five-hit effort Aug. 1. For the year, he's slashing .250/.351/.371 with 10 home runs, 49 RBI, 63 runs scored and five steals across 482 plate appearances.
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Posts three hits Saturday
Kelly went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Saturday's 9-1 win over the Cardinals.
This was Kelly's third multi-hit effort over seven games in August, and he's batting .364 (8-for-22) in that span. None of those hits have gone for extra bases, but the catcher is at least displaying some consistency at the plate. On the year, he's at a .276/.368/.484 slash line, 13 home runs, 38 RBI, 42 runs scored, 12 doubles and no stolen bases across 78 contests. His .852 OPS is the best of his career, which should allow Kelly to maintain decent playing time even once Miguel Amaya (oblique) returns in the upcoming week.
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Ethan Salas C | SD
Padres' Ethan Salas: Cleared for baseball activity
Salas (back) has been cleared for baseball activities, but he may not be ready for game action before the end of the minor-league season, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Salas hasn't played in a game since April 17, so he'll need a lengthy ramp-up period and the Padres won't rush him back from this stress fracture in his back that was slower to heal than anticipated. Regardless of whether Salas makes it back before the end of the minor-league season, he'll likely play either fall or winter ball to make up for what has essentially been a lost season.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Getting rest Saturday
Smith isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.
Smith will watch the beginning of Saturday's contest from the dugout after going 0-for-10 with two walks and an RBI over his last three games. Dalton Rushing will catch instead for starter Blake Snell and bat ninth.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: Resting during Game 2
Hicks isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.
After going 1-for-4 with a strikeout during a loss to begin the day, Hicks will retreat to the bench for Saturday's final game. Agustin Ramirez will work as Miami's catcher, and Eric Wagaman will pick up a start at first base.