MLB Player News
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Starling Marte DH | NYM
Mets' Starling Marte: Returns from injured list
The Mets activated Marte (knee) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Marte missed two weeks of action with a right knee bruise, but he will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back on the Mets' 26-man active roster. The 36-year-old is expected to be used primarily as a designated hitter, though he could occasionally see playing time in left field if Brandon Nimmo requires a day off.
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Seiya Suzuki RF | CHC
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Seen as emergency CF option only
While Suzuki started in center field Monday with Pete Crow-Armstrong (knee) out of the lineup, the team would like to add depth at the position before the trade deadline and not rely on Suzuki to fill in, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Monday marked Suzuki's first career MLB appearance in center field, as he's primarily played in right or served as the DH for the Cubs since coming over from Japan in 2022. The team started him there out of necessity with Crow-Armstrong's sore knee keeping him out of the lineup, but Chicago seems likely to target a veteran center fielder before the deadline to provide insurance. When fully healthy, the Cubs will roll out Ian Happ, Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker from left to right most days, with Suzuki sliding back into the DH role. The latter has excelled in that role this year, as his 26 home runs and 80 RBI are both among the top six in the majors.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Multi-hit effort in loss
Flores went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Monday's 9-5 loss to Atlanta.
The 33-year-old first baseman got the starting nod against right-hander Bryce Elder and lined a double to right field in the second inning before coming around to score. Flores later added a single in the fourth, marking his third multi-hit effort over his last seven games. During that span, he's slashed .320/.370/.360 with two runs scored and one double across 27 plate appearances.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Strong on mound, homers at plate
Ohtani allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over three innings in a no-decision versus the Twins on Monday. He also went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run as a batter in the contest.
Ohtani completed three innings on the mound as originally scheduled, and he helped himself out with early run support by going yard in the bottom of the first inning after allowing a leadoff blast to Byron Buxton in the top of the frame. While Ohtani gave up a run for the first time since his season debut June 16 versus the Padres, this was another positive outing for the two-way superstar, who has a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 12 innings through six starts. He stretched out to 46 pitches (30 strikes) Monday, up from 36 pitches in his previous start July 12. He's also up to 35 homers, 67 RBI, 94 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and a .275/.379/.614 slash line over 99 contests as a batter. The Dodgers have not yet announced when Ohtani's next start will be, but it is expected to be on the road, either at Boston this weekend or in Cincinnati early next week.
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Josh Bell DH | WAS
Nationals' Josh Bell: Slugs first July homer
Bell went 2-for-5 with a walk, double and a solo home run during Monday's 10-8 win over the Reds.
Bell went deep for the first time in July, and 12th time this season, to start a three-run third inning for the Nationals. Combined with his double, it's the sixth time that the 32-year-old has had multiple hits in a game this July, despite not having a home run. Regardless, it's been a great slashing month for the slugger so far, featuring season-high's across the board of .356/.442/.444 to go along with five doubles and six RBI.
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Christian Yelich LF | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: Picks up steal in win
Yelich went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 6-0 win over the Mariners.
Yelich has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, going 10-for-37 (.270) with two home runs and three steals in that span. The 33-year-old doesn't run as much as he used to, but he's still managed to log 15 thefts over 94 contests this season. He's added a .261/.338/.452 slash line, 19 homers, 66 RBI and 51 runs scored through 399 plate appearances.
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Adrian Del Castillo C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Exiting lineup Monday
Del Castillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
After getting recalled from Triple-A Reno on Friday, Del Castillo started at designated hitter in each of the Diamondbacks' first three games out of the All-Star break, going 5-for-12 with a double, two RBI and two runs. Though he'll check out of the starting nine in Monday's series opener, Del Castillo could hold down a regular spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching until Pavin Smith (oblique) returns from the injured list.
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Starling Marte DH | NYM
Mets' Starling Marte: Expected back this week
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that he expects Marte (knee) to be activated from the 10-day injured list later this week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Marte will need a few more days to recover from a right knee bruise, but he will bypass a rehab assignment and appears likely to be back when the Mets begin a road trip this weekend. Upon his return, Marte will see some playing time in the designated hitter slot, with perhaps most of it coming against left-handed pitching.
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Trenton Brooks DH | SD
Padres' Trenton Brooks: Idle against righty
Brooks is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
The left-handed-hitting Brooks was on the bench for the final two games of the Padres' series in Washington over the weekend while the Nationals sent lefties to the hill, but he'll be absent from the lineup Monday versus Marlins righty Eury Perez. Since getting called up from Triple-A El Paso on June 15, Brooks is slashing just .158/.200/.289 over 40 plate appearances, and he could soon be at risk of losing his roster spot.