MLB Player News
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Thriving since return to field
Steer went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-6 loss to Washington.
He struggled at the beginning of the season while able to serve only as a designated hitter due to a shoulder issue, but since Steer has been cleared for defensive duties, his bat has come alive. Prior to April 20, Steer had a .390 OPS with three RBI over 15 games. Since then, he has an .851 OPS with eight RBI over 12 games.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Goes deep in three-hit effort
Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two additional runs and a walk in a 10-3 win against Atlanta on Saturday.
Ohtani broke a 1-1 tie with a 415-foot solo homer to center field in the third inning. He reached base three other times in the rout and pushed his league-leading runs-scored total to 35. Ohtani's role as Los Angeles' leadoff hitter has been a factor in his accumulation of just 11 RBI so far this season, but the two-way star has otherwise been excellent with a .293/.396/.569 slash line while maintaining a 40-40 pace with eight homers and nine stolen bases through 31 games.
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Rafael Devers 3B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Drives in two runs Saturday
Devers went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Minnesota.
Devers got the Red Sox on the board in the third inning with an RBI single to center field, and he tacked on another run in the seventh following a 72-minute rain delay. Devers' strikeout issues at the start the season are a distant memory, as the 28-year-old has driven in at least one run in nine of his past 11 games. Over that span, Devers has gone 15-for-44 (.341) with nine runs scored, three home runs and 11 RBI.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Nationals' Josh Bell: Dealing with groin issue
Bell isn't starting Saturday against the Reds due to a groin issue, but he could be available to pinch hit, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
It doesn't sound like the Nationals are very concerned about Bell's injury, as Nusbaum notes that the team is "being careful" due to wet weather conditions. The veteran slugger's potential availability to pinch hit also suggests he isn't dealing with a serious issue. With Bell out of his customary DH role Saturday, James Wood is getting a day out of the field as the designated hitter while Alex Call is getting a start in left field.
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Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: Taking seat Saturday
Sheets isn't in the Padres' lineup for Saturday's matchup versus Pittsburgh.
The lefty-hitting Sheets will begin Saturday's game on the bench with Pittsburgh sending southpaw Bailey Falter to the mound. Sheets has just 10 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this season, going 2-for-10 with a double, an RBI, a walk and four strikeouts. With Sheets out of the lineup, Luis Campusano -- who was called up from Triple-A earlier in the day -- is getting a turn at DH.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Scratched Saturday
Alvarez was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the White Sox due to inflammation in his right hand, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez said his hand didn't feel right after hitting in the cages before the game, so the Astros will hold him out of action Saturday. The team will presumably take him in for imaging to see if he's dealing with any structural damage, and an update on his status should come in the near future. In the meantime, Victor Caratini will fill in as Houston's designated hitter and bat sixth.
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Gavin Sheets RF | SD
Padres' Gavin Sheets: Goes deep in three-hit game
Sheets went 3-for-5 with a home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 9-4 victory versus Pittsburgh.
Sheets put the Padres on the board in the fourth inning with a solo shot to right-center field and added a run-scoring single in the fifth. The three-hit effort came on the heels of a seven-game slump during which the veteran infielder/outfielder went 1-for-23 with three strikeouts. Sheets has collected hits in bunches this season -- he has more multi-hit performances (nine) than contests with one hit (five). Overall, he's slashing .281/.343/.461 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 11 runs and one stolen base over 99 plate appearances this season.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Returns with bang
Stephenson started at designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 6-1 win over the Nationals.
Stephenson was activated off the 10-day injured list and made his season debut after rehabbing an oblique injury. He caught several innings while on a rehab assignment, and having him DH was likely a way to slowly integrate Stephenson back into action. He was often used as a DH in past seasons to get his bat in the lineup as much as possible.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Launches sixth homer
O'Hearn went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 3-0 win over the Royals.
O'Hearn put the Orioles on the board in the seventh inning when he took Michael Wacha deep to center field for a two-run shot. It was O'Hearn's sixth home run of the season, three of which have come over his last five games. He's started the season slashing .303/.384/.579 with one stolen base, 12 runs scored and 13 RBI in 86 plate appearances.
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Pavin Smith RF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Out against left-hander
Smith is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Philadelphia.
It's southpaw Jesus Luzardo on the hill for the Phillies, so the left-handed-hitting Smith will begin the festivities on the bench. Randal Grichuk is in the designated hitter spot and batting third in the series opener.