MLB Player News
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Justyn-Henry Malloy RF | DET
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Drives in four in doubleheader
Malloy went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, four RBI and one run scored across both games of Thursday's doubleheader sweep over the Rockies.
Malloy got a rare start in right field in the day game, and he went 2-for-4 and with an RBI single in the third inning. He added a three-run double late in the nightcap. Malloy has mostly functioned as a short-side platoon option, sharing right field with lefty-hitting Zach McKinstry and Kerry Carpenter. Prior to Thursday, Malloy had gone 0-for-12 with three walks over his previous nine games. He's hitting .200 with one home run, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored and no stolen bases over 84 plate appearances.
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Wilmer Flores DH | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Three hits in win
Flores went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Cubs.
Following an 0-for-15 slump, Flores now has at least one hit in his last six games -- he's gone 9-for-24 (.375) with five RBI in that span. The 33-year-old Flores is now slashing .256/.308/.429 through 143 plate appearances this season with seven homers, 33 RBI and 17 runs scored.
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Luken Baker DH | LAD
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Optioned to Triple-A
The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Baker has played sparingly as the short side of a platoon at designated hitter, slashing .235/.366/.324 over 41 plate appearances. The Cardinals have not announced a corresponding move, but it will likely involve activating Ivan Herrera (knee) from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the Nationals.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Multiple hits again
Pederson went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to Boston.
Pederson recorded multiple hits for a second straight game and is a combined 4-for-5 with two doubles, one walk and an RBI in the first two games of the series with the Red Sox. It's just the second time all season he's hit safely in consecutive contests. He still has a way to go to dig out of an epic season-starting slump -- his average was .052 on April 22 -- but Pederson is batting .281 (9-for-32) over the last 12 games, and the bat is showing signs of life.
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Kris Bryant DH | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Due for surgery
Bryant (back) will undergo an ablation procedure Thursday to help aid in his recovery from a lumbar degenerative disc disease, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
An updated return timeline will likely come out after Bryant goes under the knife, though he will presumably need several weeks to recover before starting up his rehab. The 33-year-old has been on the injured list since mid-April and was slashing just .154/.195/.205 when healthy.
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Handling DH duties Wednesday
Diaz (hip) will serve as the Rays' designated hitter and leadoff batter in Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Diaz exited Tuesday's 8-4 win early due to right hip tightness, but he downplayed the injury after the game and suggested he would be back in action Wednesday. His prediction appears to have come true, and he'll move up to the top of the order after having occupied the No. 3 spot in his previous two starts. The left-handed-hitting Chandler Simpson could continue to bat leadoff against right-handed pitching, but Diaz looks like he'll be the Rays' preferred table setter versus lefties such as the Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez.
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Jorge Polanco DH | SEA
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Back at DH spot Wednesday
Polanco will serve as the Mariners' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Wednesday's game against the Athletics.
In Tuesday's 5-3 win, Polanco drew a start at second base, which marked his first start in the infield since April 4. Polanco had been limited to DH duties for the past month while managing a side injury that affects his throwing and inhibits him when he bats from the right side of the plate, but his usage at the keystone offers hope that he may be nearing the finish line in his recovery. The Mariners plan to have Polanco serve as their everyday third baseman once the injury is fully behind him, but he may have started at second base Tuesday due to the shorter throws that he would need to make at the position.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Dealing with muscle strain in hand
Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Alvarez has been diagnosed with a muscle strain on the top of his right hand and is hoping to be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible May 13, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez needs a bit of rest, but the goal is for him to rejoin the Astros early next week for the second game of a three-game set against the Royals. Jose Altuve has made two starts at designated hitter and Yainer Diaz has been in the DH spot once since Alvarez was placed on the IL on Monday.
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Josh Bell DH | WAS
Nationals' Josh Bell: Exiting starting nine
Bell is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Guardians.
Bell returned to action in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader after missing the previous four contests with a groin issue. While Bell seems to be healthy now, the Nationals are going with James Wood at designated hitter and Alex Call in left field for Wednesday's series finale.