MLB Player News
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Back in lineup, as expected
Martinez (hamstring) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Martinez made an appearance as a pinch hitter Friday and is now ready to return to DH duties after battling renewed left hamstring tightness throughout the week. It's a positive that he was able to avoid the injured list, but Martinez could always get additional maintenance down the stretch as the Dodgers prepare for the postseason. The 35-year-old is in the midst of a resurgent campaign with a .260/.311/.562 line and 25 homers in 86 games.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Appears as pinch hitter Friday
Martinez (hamstring) drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk in Friday's 10-5 win against the Padres.
Before Friday, Martinez hadn't appeared in a game since exiting early in Sunday's contest against the Reds due to left hamstring tightness. The veteran slugger was able to avoid a trip to the injured list and collected a walk with the bases full in the eighth inning Friday to notch an RBI, though he was immediately pulled for a pinch runner. Per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Martinez is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against San Diego.
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Joey Meneses DH | NYM
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Smacks clutch homer
Meneses went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Reds.
Meneses touched up starter Graham Ashcraft for a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, his ninth homer of the season. He endured a power outage over the final two weeks of July as Meneses continues to be rather streaky. The late bloomer has five hits -- including two homers -- over his last four games, and fantasy managers will have to hope this is the start of a hot stretch.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Connects for 23rd homer
Ozuna went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-0 win over the Cubs.
He went back-to-back with Sean Murphy in the fourth inning, crushing a Kyle Hendricks sinker out of Wrigley Field entirely. Ozuna has an OPS north of .850 since the start of May, though he gets lost in the shuffle a bit with all the great bats in the Atlanta lineup. His 23 home runs rank fifth on the club.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Sitting Friday
McCutchen is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After going hitless in his final three July games, McCutchen has collected five hits in his first three games of August. The 36-year-old will get what looks like a routine breather as Bryan Reynolds takes a turn as the designated hitter. Josh Palacios will start in left field and bat leadoff against right-hander Colin Rea.
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Christopher Morel 1B | MIA
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Takes seat Friday
Morel is out of the lineup Friday against Atlanta.
Morel will get a breather after starting six straight games between DH and left field. The high-energy 24-year-old is slashing .350/.409/.600 with two homers, four doubles, 10 RBI, two stolen bases and nine runs scored over his last 10 games.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Expected back Saturday
Martinez (hamstring) is expected to return to the lineup Saturday versus the Padres, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Martinez has missed the Dodgers' entire three-game set against the Athletics due to left hamstring tightness and will also be held out of the lineup for Friday's series opener in San Diego, but he took batting practice Thursday in Los Angeles and also did some on-field running without issue. When healthy this season, the veteran slugger has delivered an .872 OPS with 25 home runs and 75 RBI in 85 games.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Remains out Thursday
Martinez (hamstring) is out of the lineup again Thursday versus the Athletics.
Martinez has been sidelined since Sunday due to lingering left hamstring tightness, but imaging scans taken this week showed no structural damage, and he is expected to avoid the injured list. Will Smith will take a turn as the Dodgers' designated hitter Thursday as Austin Barnes handles the catching duties.
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Kyle Lewis DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Optioned to Reno
Arizona optioned Lewis to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
This move frees up a 26-man roster spot for Tommy Pham, who was acquired from the Mets ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline and will officially report to the Diamondbacks ahead of Thursday's series finale in San Francisco. Lewis has batted just .182/.229/.303 in 35 plate appearances this season at the major-league level.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: On bench Thursday
Vogelbach is out of the lineup again Thursday versus the Royals.
Vogelbach sat Wednesday with the Royals throwing a lefty, and he'll remain on the bench Thursday as right-hander Brady Singer readies to toe the slab for Kansas City. Mark Vientos is serving as the Mets' designated hitter and batting sixth.