MLB Player News
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Nick Maton DH | CHW
White Sox's Nick Maton: Sitting against southpaw
Maton is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.
The left-handed-hitting Maton will retreat to the bench while the Athletics send southpaw JP Sears to the hill for the series finale. Though Maton has logged 42 of his 43 plate appearances against opposite-handed pitching, he's batting just .139 with a pair of home runs and a 27.9 percent strikeout rate. The White Sox have been using Maton as their primary option at designated hitter versus righties this season, but his lack of production thus far could inspire manager Will Venable to use a rotation of players at the DH spot.
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Josh Bell DH | WAS
Nationals' Josh Bell: Resting Thursday
Bell is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
With Thursday's game beginning at 12:35 p.m. ET, Bell will get some rest after he had started at designated hitter or at first base in each of Washington's last seven contests while going 3-for-27 with a home run and three walks over that stretch. Bell's absence from the lineup will allow the Nationals to give James Wood a day out of the outfield and deploy him as their DH.
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Bryan Reynolds RF | PIT
Pirates' Bryan Reynolds: Returning to outfield Thursday
Reynolds (triceps) will start in right field and bat second in Thursday's game against the Nationals.
Reynolds will be making his first start in the outfield since March 30, as he had been limited exclusively to designated-hitter duties over the past two and a half weeks while managing right triceps soreness. The 30-year-old was apparently able to resume a throwing program without issue in recent days, and the Pirates are now comfortable enough with his health to have him play defense again. Pittsburgh had been getting by with a committee of Andrew McCutchen, Jack Suwinski and Alexander Canario in right field, but assuming Reynolds is ready to play in the outfield on a regular basis moving forward, McCutchen will likely end up seeing the bulk of the starts at DH.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Taking seat Thursday
Steer is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.
Steer has been limited to designated-hitter duties thus far as he works his way back from a right shoulder injury, but manager Terry Francona said that the 27-year-old is ramping up his throwing and is almost ready to play first base, according to Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News. It's not clear when Steer might be ready to play additional positions, however. Austin Hays will get a start at DH on Thursday while Steer rests.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | SD
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Homers in win
O'Hearn went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-1 win over Cleveland.
O'Hearn extended Baltimore's lead to 6-1 in the eighth inning with a 396-foot blast off Triston McKenzie, his second homer of the year. The 31-year-old O'Hearn has gone 4-for-9 in his last three games, boosting his slash line to .302/.388/.512 with seven runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base through his first 49 plate appearances this season.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Slugs moonshot in victory
Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in an 8-7 win against Colorado on Wednesday.
Ohtani led off the bottom half of the first inning in jaw-dropping fashion, belting a 448-foot solo shot to right field off veteran German Marquez. The two-way star plated another run (albeit in less dramatic fashion) later in the frame on a single to right field to cap a seven-run opening inning for Los Angeles. Ohtani is tied for fourth in the league with six home runs, and he's added five steals, putting him on pace to approach a 40-40 campaign after logging MLB's first ever 50-50 season last year.
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Pavin Smith DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Belts solo homer
Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Miami.
Smith extended Arizona's lead to two runs in the sixth inning, when he took Max Meyer deep to center field for a 429-foot solo home run. It was Smith's second homer of the year, and he's begun the season slashing .386/.460/.659 with nine runs and five RBI in 50 plate appearances while filling the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Mets' Jesse Winker: Bangs out two doubles Wednesday
Winker went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Twins.
The veteran outfielder broke an 0-for-13 skid with the performance. Winker has had a tough beginning to 2025 and missed time over the last week with an illness, but he's capable of heating up quickly if he's healthy. Through 12 games, he's batting .200 (7-for-35) with zero homers, one run and six RBI.
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Jonah Bride 3B | MIN
Twins' Jonah Bride: Shipped to Minnesota
The Twins acquired Bride from the Marlins on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The 29-year-old was designated for assignment by Miami on Tuesday, and Minnesota elected to trade for him with Willi Castro (oblique) and Matt Wallner (hamstring) being the latest Twins players to suffer injuries. Bride went 4-for-40 with 15 strikeouts through 12 games for the Marlins this season, but he was productive in 272 plate appearances last year with 11 homers and an .818 OPS. Therefore, it's a good opportunity for the Twins to add some much-needed infield depth with upside.
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Ben Rice 1B | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Idle vs. southpaw
Rice is not in the Yankees' starting lineup against the Royals on Wednesday.
Rice has received three starts against left-handed pitchers this season, but he'll take a seat Wednesday with the Royals sending southpaw Kris Bubic to the mound. With Rice beginning the contest in the dugout, Aaron Judge will serve as the designated hitter while Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Jasson Dominguez man the outfield. Rice has started the season slashing .273/.385/.618 with 10 walks, two stolen bases, 12 runs scored, five home runs and seven RBI in 65 plate appearances.