MLB Player News
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Elias Diaz C | SD
Padres' Elias Diaz: Adds homer in win
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs scored in Sunday's 8-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Diaz had gone 0-for-8 with three walks and five strikeouts over his previous four games. The catcher was able to do some damage Sunday, stretching the Padres' lead to 7-2 with a ninth-inning homer, his first long ball since May 4 versus the Pirates. Diaz is now at a .219/.292/.336 slash line with four homers, five doubles, 10 RBI, 20 runs scored and no stolen bases over 162 plate appearances. He has been in a fairly even timeshare with Martin Maldonado since the start of June, as neither backstop is doing much consistently with the bat, though Maldonado has the slight edge in playing time over the last week.
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Gary Sanchez C | BAL
Orioles' Gary Sanchez: Smacks grand slam in win
Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and an additional run scored in Sunday's 11-2 win over the Angels.
Sanchez broke the game open, launching a grand slam off Connor Brogdon that extended Baltimore's lead to 9-2 with two outs in the seventh inning. The 32-year-old Sanchez has homered in back-to-back games following a nearly two-month stint on the IL. Overall, Sanchez has gone 6-for-37 (.162) with a .580 OPS across 43 plate appearances this year. While he'll primarily serve as Adley Rutschman's backup, Sanchez should see additional playing time at DH.
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Receiving break Sunday
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Smith started the previous three games and will get a breather after going 3-for-11 with two walks, two RBI and three runs. Rookie Daulton Rushing will fill in at catcher and bat eighth Sunday.
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Andrew Knizner C | SF
Giants' Andrew Knizner: Resting Sunday
Knizner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Logan Porter will fill in behind the plate while Knizner takes a seat after starting in five of the Giants' previous six games. Knizner is likely to continue seeing the bulk of the work at catcher while top backstop Patrick Bailey (neck) is on the injured list.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Padres' Martin Maldonado: Idle Sunday
Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Maldonado will take a seat for the series finale after he had started behind the plate in three of the Friars' previous four games, including Saturday's 8-7 loss. Elias Diaz will form a battery with starting pitcher Nick Pivetta on Sunday.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Receiving breather Sunday
Moreno is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Moreno went 1-for-8 with a run scored while starting the first two games of the series versus San Diego, and he'll head to the bench for Sunday's finale. Jose Herrera will take over behind the plate and bat ninth against righty Nick Pivetta.
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Jonah Heim C | TEX
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Not in Sunday's lineup
Heim is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Heim will take a seat after starting the first two games of the series. Kyle Higashioka will step in to catch for Kumar Rocker.
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Henry Davis RF | PIT
Pirates' Henry Davis: Getting breather Sunday
Davis is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Davis will get a rest after going 1-for-6 with a double, a walk and a run over the prior two games. Brett Sullivan will handle catching duties.
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Resting Sunday
Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Kelly will get some rest for the series finale while Reese McGuire forms a battery with starting pitcher Colin Rea on Sunday.