MLB Player News
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Goes on IL with tight groin
The Dodgers placed Martinez on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with left groin tightness, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
This groin/hamstring tightness has been a lingering issue for Martinez throughout the second half of the 2023 campaign and he will now take an extended period off for rest and treatment. When healthy this season, the veteran designated hitter has posted an .856 OPS with 25 home runs and 78 RBI across 92 games for Los Angeles. Michael Busch has been called up in a corresponding roster move.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Goes deep twice
Ozuna went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Monday's 10-4 loss to the Mets.
The 32-year-old outfielder got the better of David Peterson on Monday, blasting two solo shots off the Mets' starter. Ozuna's first homer marked an historic achievement for Atlanta, as it now boasts five players with 25-plus home runs for the first time in franchise history. The slugger has now hit safely in 17 of his last 18 contests, posting a .348/.419/.621 slash line with four homers, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored during that stretch.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Giants' Joc Pederson: Homers Monday
Pederson went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Monday's loss against the Phillies.
Pederson put the Giants in front early with a homer off Aaron Nola in the opening inning. It's Pederson's 12th homer of the year and his first since July 28 -- he'd gone just 11-for-59 (.186) with a .450 OPS in 19 games over that span. Overall, the 31-year-old Pederson is slashing .238/.351/.423 across 316 plate appearances with 45 runs scored and 41 RBI this season while serving as San Francisco's primary DH against right-handed pitching.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Slugs game-winning homer
Rooker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 6-4 victory versus the Royals.
After hitting his 20th homer of the season Sunday, Rooker followed with No. 21 a day later. The long ball proved to be the difference in the contest, as it came in the ninth inning and broke a 4-4 tie. Rooker struggled at the plate early in August, but he's been coming on of late, batting .346 (9-for-26) with two homers, four RBI and five runs over his past seven games.
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Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Legs out inside-the-park homer
Harper went 2-for-5 with a home run in Monday's win over San Francisco.
Harper tied the game 1-1 in the first inning with an RBI single before legging out an inside-the-park home run in the fifth. He's now 8-for-19 (.421) with three homers over his last five games. Overall, Harper's slash line is up to .293/.385/.449 with 10 homers, 57 runs scored, 42 RBI and seven steals through 397 plate appearances this season.
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Kyle Lewis DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Kyle Lewis: Returns to Reno
Lewis was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Lewis was called up last week and did have a multi-hit game, but he also posted a .325 OPS over 19 plate appearances, so the Diamondbacks decided to remove him from the roster to open up a spot for the returning Evan Longoria.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Red Sox's Justin Turner: Receives day off
Turner is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.
Turner had a big weekend series against the Yankees, but he will get some rest after starting two straight games at first base.
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Christopher Morel 1B | MIA
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Gets Monday off
Morel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.
Nick Madrigal will enter the lineup at third base and serve as the de facto replacement for Morel, who had served as the Cubs' designated hitter for each of the past 13 games. Morel went just 2-for-23 with eight strikeouts in the last six of those contests, however, so manager David Ross may just be giving the 24-year-old a mental break Monday.
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Miguel Cabrera DH | DET
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: Heads to bench Monday
Cabrera is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.
Just as manager A.J. Hinch had suggested Sunday would be the case, Cabrera will take a seat for the series opener with the Cubs while Kerry Carpenter serves as Detroit's designated hitter. Cabrera has been serving as the Tigers' primary DH throughout August and likely won't be phased out of the lineup in the final stanza of his Hall of Fame-worthy career, though the promotion of outfield prospect Parker Meadows to the big leagues Monday could mean that the 40-year-old ends up moving into a short-side platoon role.
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Luken Baker DH | ARI
Cardinals' Luken Baker: Sitting versus lefty
Baker is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Midwest reports.
Baker has started just four of nine games since his recall and has now not been in the lineup three times in five contests versus southpaws over that time. The minor league's home run leader this season with 33 dingers, Baker has struggled during his few chances in the majors and the Cardinals don't seem terribly interested in giving him a longer look.