MLB Player News
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Good to go Sunday
Diaz (hamstring) will start at first base and bat third Sunday against the Cardinals, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Diaz sustained a low-grade hamstring strain in the series opener versus St. Louis on Thursday and sat out Friday's 10-6 win, but he'll return to the lineup following Saturday's team off day. The first baseman has collected at least one hit in eight of his past 10 games and has five multi-hit efforts during that span.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Launches 22nd homer
Springer went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the Marlins.
The veteran outfielder took Tyler Phillips deep for a solo shot in the seventh inning, giving the Blue Jays a vital insurance run in what was at the time a 4-0 lead. Springer has hit safely in seven straight games since returning from a concussion, batting .345 (10-for-29) with a double, a steal, seven RBI, eight runs and four of his 22 homers on the year.
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Ben Rice DH | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Out of lineup Saturday
Rice isn't starting Saturday's game against the Red Sox, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rice has become a mainstay in New York's lineup in August, and he entered the weekend having started at either catcher or first base in each of the team's past 15 contests. However, he'll give way behind the plate to Austin Wells on Saturday while Paul Goldschmidt mans first base. Rice's day off isn't performance-related, as he posted a 1.018 OPS with four home runs and 12 RBI during the aforementioned 15-game stretch.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Walks off Cleveland
Pederson went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Friday's 4-3 win over the Guardians.
Pederson laced a first-pitch double to drive in the game-winning run in the ninth inning for the walk-off win. His hit followed a game-tying single by Corey Seager on the first pitch he saw, as it appears the Rangers had a plan to jump early on Cleveland closer Cade Smith. Pederson has hit safely in four consecutive games, going 5-for-15 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Drives in four in rout
McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and four RBI in Friday's 9-0 rout of the Rockies.
The 38-year-old got the offensive fireworks started early with two-run doubles in both the first and second innings. The performance snapped a 1-for-22 slump by McCutchen over his prior nine games, and on the season he's slashing .240/.331/.375 with 11 homers, 39 runs and 45 RBI in 109 contests.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Smacks early homer
Rooker went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a second run scored in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners.
Rooker was responsible for two of the three baserunners the Athletics put on against Bryan Woo over the first seven innings. Rooker went deep in the first frame for his third homer over his last 12 games, a span in which he's batting .265 (13-for-49). For the season, the slugger is up to a .272/.345/.498 slash line with 26 homers, 74 RBI, 83 runs scored and five stolen bases through 130 contests.
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Jorge Polanco DH | SEA
Mariners' Jorge Polanco: Connects for homer in win
Polanco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 win over the Athletics.
Polanco snapped a 12-game homerless drought in the seventh inning. During that span, he went 7-for-44 (.159) with one double, three RBI and 15 strikeouts. Polanco has struggled with consistency throughout much of the season with a handful of lengthy slumps on his ledger. He's at a .246/.310/.445 slash line with 19 homers, 55 RBI, 45 runs scored and five stolen bases across 107 contests.
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Miguel Andujar DH | CIN
Reds' Miguel Andujar: Sitting Friday
Andujar is not in the Reds' starting lineup against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Andujar will be out of the Reds' lineup for the second time in four games while Gavin Lux serves as the designated hitter and Matt McLain starts at second base. Andujar has gone 18-for-47 (.383) with nine runs, three home runs and 11 RBI in 15 games since Aug. 1.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Returning Friday
Ohtani (thigh) is serving as the designated hitter and batting out of the leadoff spot against the Padres on Friday.
Ohtani took a comebacker to his right thigh during Wednesday's game against the Rockies, but the injury isn't severe enough for him to miss Friday's NL West series opener. Ohtani has reached base safely in all 18 games since Aug. 1, and over that span he has posted a 1.266 OPS with 20 runs, four steals, six home runs and 10 RBI in 82 plate appearances.
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Not in Friday's lineup
Diaz (hamstring) is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Cardinals on Friday.
Diaz was diagnosed with a low-grade hamstring injury that he suffered against St. Louis on Thursday. He'll be out of the lineup Friday but could be available for Sunday's series finale. Brandon Lowe will serve as the Rays' designated hitter Friday while Tristan Gray draws the start at second base and bats ninth.