MLB Player News
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Goes yard against Nats
Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Nationals.
His fourth-inning blast was one of three on the day as Atlanta hitters bashed off Josiah Gray. Ozuna has struggled to hit for average the last couple seasons, but the 32-year-old still hit 23 homers in 124 games in 2022 and figures to be a solid power source once again this year, even if the rest of his profile doesn't rebound.
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Mark Canha LF | TEX
Mets' Mark Canha: Powers offense with three hits
Canha went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over the Marlins.
Canha scored the first run of the game and drove in runs on a single in the fifth inning and a solo homer in the seventh. He has started in all three games for the Mets so far this season, twice in left field and once as the designated hitter. Even though he's 34 years old, there might be some upside here, particularly in the power department.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Brewers' Jesse Winker: Hits bench against lefty
Winker is not in the lineup against lefty Justin Steele and the Cubs on Saturday.
Winker served as the designated hitter on Opening Day and hit second, but he finished the day 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Given that his career wRC+ against righties (136) is nearly 50 points higher than his mark against lefties (87), it's likely he won't receive many starts against opposing southpaws. Luke Voit will be the DH on Saturday.
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Kyle Lewis DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Plays hero as pinch hitter
Lewis hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning off Alex Vesia to account for all of Arizona's offense in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers on Friday.
The 27-year-old was on the bench to begin the game with Dustin May on the mound for Los Angeles. Lewis delivered in a big way when he got a chance to pinch hit, erasing a one-run deficit with a blast to left field for his first hit as a Diamondback. He is expected to see the bulk of his action this season against left-handed pitching, but he could push his way into the regular mix at DH if he continues to come through in the clutch.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Belts first homer
Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Friday's win over the Padres.
Blackmon followed up his three-hit Opening Day with another multi-hit performance. His two-run shot off Nick Martinez in the fifth inning was the Rockies' lone extra-base hit of the contest. Blackmon is 5-for-9 with two extra-base hits and two strikeouts to begin the season.
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Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Marlins' Jorge Soler: Shines in Friday's win
Soler went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Mets.
Getting the start in right field and hitting fifth against lefty David Peterson, Soler opened the scoring in the second inning with his first homer of the year. He also made a couple run-saving catches, an impressive defensive showing for a player who didn't play a single game in right field in 2022. The Marlins' rotation between the corner outfield spots and designated hitter is still in flux, so Soler could earn consistent work in the field as the season unfolds. It should be noted the 31-year-old was replaced by Bryan De La Cruz in the top of the ninth, so manager Skip Schumaker doesn't yet view Soler as part of his best defensive alignment.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Sitting versus lefty
Carpenter is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
After getting the Opening Day start Thursday, the lefty-hitting Carpenter will take a seat Friday against Kyle Freeland. Nelson Cruz will take his place as San Diego's designated hitter Friday, and Cruz likely will do so against lefty starters for the rest of the season.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Out of lineup Friday
Vogelbach isn't in the Mets' lineup for Friday's game against Miami, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The left-handed slugger holds just a .402 OPS against lefties since 2021, so he will sit out Friday against Jesus Luzardo. Mark Canha will instead serve as the Mets' designated hitter, opening up a chance for Tommy Pham to start in left field and bat eighth.
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Kyle Lewis DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: At leadoff for Arizona in opener
Lewis will bat leadoff as the designated hitter in the Diamondbacks' season opener Thursday against the Dodgers.
Lewis was acquired via trade from the Mariners in November and made a terrific impression in Diamondbacks camp this spring, slashing .429/.529/.857 with three home runs and three doubles across 34 plate appearances. The 27-year-old could perhaps be in for a post-hype breakout if his health cooperates. He won AL Rookie of the Year honors during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.