MLB Player News
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Ben Rice DH | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Goes deep in win
Rice went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-2 victory against Minnesota.
The 26-year-old popped his first homer of the month with a 415-foot solo shot off Twins starter Zebby Matthews in the third. Rice, who continues to occupy a strong-side platoon role, is now slashing .235/.326/.463 with 17 home runs, 50 runs scored and 38 RBI in 372 total plate appearances. He picked up his 10th game started as a backstop in Monday's contest and likely now qualifies at catcher in many leagues.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Slugs 11th homer
Stanton went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-2 win over the Twins.
The New York veteran started in right field for the second time this season and launched a 399-foot solo shot off Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews in the third. Stanton has been a reliable bat since returning from elbow injuries June 16, slashing .281/.362/.548 with 31 RBI and 19 runs scored in 152 plate appearances across 41 games; however, he is mired in a part-time role because Aaron Judge (elbow) occupies the designated hitter spot while nursing back to full health.
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Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Launches 42nd long ball
Schwarber went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 4-1 win at Cincinnati.
The Philadelphia designated hitter stretched his team's lead to 4-1 with a 404-foot, two-run blast off Reds reliever Tony Santillan in the eighth. Schwarber has been on a tear since the All-Star break, batting .270 (23-for-85) with 12 homers, 28 RBI and 15 runs scored across 22 contests, as he's entered the discussion for the NL MVP Award. In 524 total plate appearances, the 32-year-old is slashing .252/.376/.584 with 10 steals, 97 RBI and 81 runs scored.
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Masataka Yoshida DH | BOS
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Taking seat Monday
Yoshida is not in the Red Sox's starting lineup against the Astros on Monday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida will be available off the bench while Roman Anthony serves as the DH and Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu man the outfield from left to right. Yoshida went 4-for-11 with one double, one home run and four RBI during Boston's three-game weekend series against San Diego.
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Colt Keith DH | DET
Tigers' Colt Keith: Exiting lineup for series opener
Keith is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The White Sox are having right-hander Elvis Peguero open the game, but since lefty Tyler Alexander is expected to work in bulk relief behind him, the left-handed-hitting Keith will retreat to the bench for the series opener in Chicago. With Keith exiting the starting nine, Kerry Carpenter will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter and Andy Ibanez will start at third base.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Advances to on-field BP
Alvarez (hand) took batting practice on the field Saturday at the Astros' spring training complex in Florida, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
After he had previously been limited to hitting in the batting cages while he works his way back from a right hand fracture, Alvarez took a small step forward in the recovery process by facing off against pitching on the field. The Astros will likely want to see Alvarez complete several live BP sessions before clearing him to participate in simulated games or minor-league games, where he'll need to stockpile at-bats to regain his timing at the plate following a lengthy layoff from action. Houston has yet to provide a firm timeline for a return for Alvarez, who has been on the injured list since May 5.
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Austin Hays LF | CIN
Reds' Austin Hays: On bench again Monday
Hays is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Hays will take a seat for the second time in three games as the Reds make room in the lineup for Miguel Andujar, who will occupy the designated-hitter spot and bat cleanup while Gavin Lux covers left field. With Hays providing a meager .565 OPS since the All-Star break, he could be in danger of moving into more of a part-time role in the near future if he's unable to turn things around at the plate.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Stays hot Sunday
Ozuna went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Marlins.
Ozuna provided Atlanta with key insurance via a 422-foot homer in the seventh inning. The 34-year-old has now gone deep four times in as many games, racking up six hits and eight RBI in that span. He's slashing .240/.369/.427 with 19 homers, 56 RBI and 47 runs scored this season and should remain the team's primary DH amid his recent hot streak.
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Miguel Andujar DH | CIN
Reds' Miguel Andujar: Sparks offense in win
Andujar went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 14-8 win over the Pirates. He was also hit by a pitch.
Andujar capped a four-run third inning for Cincinatti with a three-run blast off Mike Burrows. Since returning from the injured list July 10, the 30-year-old has produced a .965 OPS with nine extra-base hits and 10 RBI over 21 games. For the year, he's quietly slashing .303/.343/.453 with seven homers, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored and one steal across 251 plate appearances between the Athletics and Reds.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Stays hot Sunday
Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays.
Ohtani tied the game at 1-1 with his leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning. He still hasn't been held hitless in August, going 16-for-35 (.457) with three homers, four RBI and four steals during his nine-game hitting streak to begin the month. He had multiple hits in all three games against Toronto. He's up to a .284/.388/.620 slash line with 41 long balls, 77 RBI, 111 runs scored and 17 steals through 116 games this season.