MLB Player News
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Mitch Garver DH | SEA
Mariners' Mitch Garver: Homers, plates three RBI in win
Garver went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a walk and three RBI in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Athletics.
Garver extended the Mariners' lead with a two-run blast in the fifth and also got things rolling for the M's with an RBI single in the opening frame. The two hits ended a mini three-game slump for the 33-year-old, though he's still been hitting well in May, slashing .300/.405/.567 with two homers, six RBI and five runs over his last eight games.
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Willie Calhoun DH | LAA
Angels' Willie Calhoun: Three hits in loss
Calhoun went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI double in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Royals.
Calhoun was responsible for both of the Angels' runs in the game. The homer was his first with the team, and he's up to three RBI, six runs scored and a .333/.361/.606 slash line over 36 plate appearances since he was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake at the start of May. That productivity has helped him carve out a role as the Angels' primary designated hitter, though it's unlikely he'll be able to sustain his production in the long run.
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Mike Ford DH | MIN
Reds' Mike Ford: Goes deep in loss
Ford went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Ford's homer tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning. The 31-year-old has gone 2-for-15 with a walk and two strikeouts over five games since he re-signed with the Reds on May 8 following his release from the organization May 4. Ford slashed .228/.323/.475 with 16 homers and 34 RBI over 84 contests with the Mariners last season, so he may have some power upside if he can claim a regular role.
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Kyle Manzardo 1B | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Hitting bench Sunday
Manzardo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Jose Ramirez is getting a day out of the infield and is serving as the Guardians' designated hitter in the series finale, leaving no room in the lineup for Manzardo. Since getting called up from Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Manzardo is off to an unremarkable start to his big-league career, going 3-for-17 with a double and seven strikeouts through seven games.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Out Sunday with back tightness
Ohtani (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Ohtani's absence from the starting nine was fully expected after he was removed from Saturday's 5-0 win over the Padres following his fourth at-bat of the night due to lower-back tightness. According to ESPN.com, manager Dave Roberts said he had minimal concern about Ohtani's health, but the star designated hitter will nonetheless sit out the series finale in San Diego. The Dodgers are seemingly hopeful that Ohtani can return to the lineup for Monday's series opener in San Francisco.
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Harold Ramirez DH | WAS
Rays' Harold Ramirez: Sitting for series finale
Ramirez isn't in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Ramirez went 0-for-7 with two strikeouts over the first two games of the series. He will begin Sunday's game in the dugout as the Yankees send right-hander Luis Gil to the hill. Randy Arozarena will serve as the designated hitter Sunday, while Jonny DeLuca and Jose Siri start in left and center field, respectively.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Blue Jays' Justin Turner: Sitting Sunday
Turner is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against Minnesota.
Turner will get a day off in the series finale as the Blue Jays hand Daniel Vogelbach a start at designated hitter in his stead. The 39-year-old has gone hitless over his last three games and is 3-for-30 with two runs and one RBI in May.
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Kris Bryant RF | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Likely to begin rehab stint Tuesday
Bryant (back) is likely to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Bryant hasn't played since April 13 due to a lower-back strain, but he took a major step forward in his recovery by taking batting practice Friday and Saturday. According to the report, Bryant displayed even more power in Saturday's live BP session than Friday's, leaving the Rockies optimistic that he'll soon be ready to rejoin the big club. Bryant will report to Albuquerque on Tuesday, and if all goes well in his rehab assignment, manager Bud Black left the door open for the four-time All-Star to return to the big club in advance of Friday's series opener in San Francisco.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Snaps out of slump
McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Saturday against the Cubs.
McCutchen entered the game with just four hits across his last 43 at-bats while striking out at a 27.5 percent clip. He came through with a clutch home run to lead off the sixth frame of Saturday's contest, his fourth time leaving the yard on the season. McCutchen has a .288 wOBA and 84 wRC+ across 124 total plate appearances on the campaign, though he continues to serve as Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Nursing back tightness
Ohtani was removed from Saturday's game versus the Padres due to back tightness, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his level of concern regarding the injury is "minimal," but the skipper is leaning toward holding Ohtani out of Sunday's lineup as a precaution. Roberts will wait to see how Ohtani feels Sunday morning before making a final determination. Before exiting Saturday's contest, Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.