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  • Blue Jays' George Springer: Another leadoff homer

    Springer went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Pirates.

    The veteran outfielder led off the game by taking Johan Oviedo deep, but it was the only offense Toronto produced in a 2-1 loss. Per Sportsnet, Springer has tied Devon White's franchise record with 22 leadoff home runs in a Blue Jays uniform. He's also gone yard three times in five games since returning from a concussion, going 6-for-19 (.316) with a steal, five RBI and six runs.

  • Cody Freeman 3B | TEX

    Rangers' Cody Freeman: Poaching starts from Jung at 3B

    Freeman will start at third base and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Royals.

    Since being called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Freeman has gone just 1-for-14 at the dish, but he will stick in the lineup for the fourth time in five games nonetheless. During that five-game stretch, he's made three of those starts against right-handed pitching and three at third base, where he could occupy the strong side of a platoon with the struggling Josh Jung until super-utility player Josh Smith likely gets pushed back to the infield once right fielder Adolis Garcia (ankle) returns from the injured list.

  • Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Plays hero off bench

    Stanton slugged a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the 10th inning of Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Rays.

    Coming off the bench to face Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks in a 3-3 tie, Stanton crushed a fastball to left field with an exit velocity of 108.1 mph. It was part of a barrage that has seen the Yankees become the first team since the 1999 Reds to homer 14 times in a two-game span, per Andy Nesbitt of SI.com. Stanton's more than done his part with three of those long balls, and through 14 games in August he's slashing a stunning .432/.523/1.027 with seven homers and 17 RBI.

  • Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Potential late-season bench option

    Ballesteros could return to the majors later in the season to give the Cubs a left-handed bench bat for the stretch run, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com report.

    Ballesteros got a brief taste of the majors earlier in the season, appearing in six games for the Cubs, but he's spent most of the year with Triple-A Iowa. The 21-year-old catching prospect has excelled at the level, posting a .321 batting average, .865 OPS, 11 home runs and 65 RBI in 99 games. If Ballesteros does return to Chicago at some point, it will be for his bat in the right matchups, as the Cubs seem content with Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire behind the plate, and Miguel Amaya (ankle) could rejoin the team at some point as well.

  • Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Delivers winning run

    Del Castillo entered as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-1 with an RBI in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning win over Cleveland.

    Del Castillo came up in the bottom of the 10th inning and walked off the Guardians. He's had a few bright moments like Wednesday's during his current stint in the big leagues, but not as many as in a late-season call-up in 2024. Del Castillo was called up to the Diamondbacks following the All-Star break as a replacement for the then-injured Pavin Smith, who has since returned. Now, with catcher Gabriel Moreno (finger) poised to return ahead of this weekend's series against the Reds, Del Castillo's roster spot could be in jeopardy.

  • Ryan O'Hearn DH | SD

    Padres' Ryan O'Hearn: Goes deep in win

    O'Hearn went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two total runs and two total RBI in an 8-1 victory versus San Francisco on Wednesday.

    O'Hearn kicked off the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning and added a solo shot to center field in the seventh. The former Oriole is working on a modest four-game hitting streak during which he's gone 6-for-13 at the plate with two homers, four runs and six RBI. O'Hearn has been a solid contributor since joining the Padres at the trade deadline, collecting three home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs over 16 contests while slashing .262/.372/.524.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Tending to bruised thigh

    Ohtani was diagnosed with a right thigh contusion after being hit by a comebacker during Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Rockies, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.

    Ohtani was hit by an Orlando Arcia comebacker in the bottom of the fourth inning, but he was able to stay in the game and finish out the frame. He then took his next at-bat as the Dodgers' designated hitter in the top of the fifth, but Alex Call pinch-hit for Ohtani in the top of the eighth with the Dodgers trailing 6-1. Manager Dave Roberts said after the game that Ohtani will get a scheduled day off Thursday, and the hope is Ohtani will be ready to serve as a DH in Friday's series opener against the Padres. Ohtani isn't expected to require any further testing on his injured thigh, and he doesn't appear to be at risk of missing his next turn through the rotation either.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Replaced by pinch hitter

    Ohtani was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rockies in the top of the eighth inning after he was hit in the leg by a comebacker while pitching earlier in the contest, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.

    In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ohtani was hit in the leg by a comebacker off the bat of Orlando Arcia. The training staff came out to check on Ohtani, but he stayed in the game to finish out the inning on the mound. Ohtani stayed in the dugout for an extended period of time prior to his plate appearance in the top of the fifth and was eventually pulled for a pinch hitter in the eighth with the Dodgers trailing 6-1. Manager Dave Roberts may provide an update after the game, but Ohtani should be viewed as day-to-day for now. Los Angeles wraps up the series with Colorado on Thursday, but Ohtani had already been expected to sit out that game for rest purposes before he made his early exit Wednesday.

  • Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI

    Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Homers, drives in five

    Schwarber went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, five total RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 victory over the Mariners.

    Schwarber capped his five-RBI outburst in the eighth inning with his 45th homer of the season, good for second most in the majors. Schwarber now has eight homers and 22 RBI in his last 17 games. Overall, he's slashing .253/.373/.584 with 109 RBI, 89 runs scored and 10 stolen bases across 566 plate appearances this season.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Expected to get rest day Thursday

    Ohtani will start as a pitcher and designated hitter in Wednesday's game against the Rockies but is expected to be out of the lineup for Thursday's series finale at Coors Field, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

    Ohtani hasn't been given a rest day so far this season, though he did miss two contests in April while on the paternity list. The decision doesn't seem to have anything to do with the All-Star's performance at the plate -- he's reached base safely in 17 straight contests and has slashed .381/.506/.746 with six home runs, 10 RBI, 20 runs, four stolen bases and a 16:21 BB:K during that span. Rather, manager Dave Roberts may just want to make sure Ohtani doesn't wear down in the dog days of the summer, especially as the two-way star continues to pitch deeper into games when he takes the mound. Per Ardaya, the plan is for Ohtani to go five frames in his start Wednesday in Colorado. That evening game is followed by a day game Thursday, which also likely played into the decision to give Ohtani a breather. Will Smith is expected to get a day off his feet behind the plate and serve as the team's DH on Thursday.

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