MLB Player News
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Ivan Herrera DH | STL
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Goes deep in win
Herrera went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 5-1 win over Milwaukee. He was also hit by a pitch.
On Saturday, Herrera told Jim Hayes of FanDuel Sports Network Midwest that he would undergo a minor procedure in the offseason to address an elbow issue that has hindered him in making throws behind the plate, which has been a factor in the Cardinals electing not to use him at catcher since he returned from a stint on the injured list July 13. He made four starts in left field from July 28 through Aug. 13 but has otherwise been used exclusively at designated hitter. He should continue to finish out the season as the Cardinals' primary DH, and Herrera was able to snap out of a minor power drought by connecting on his 17th long ball of the season in the third inning. He had failed to record an extra-base hit in any of his previous six starts entering Sunday.
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Gavin Lux DH | CIN
Reds' Gavin Lux: Supplies Sunday's lone run
Lux went 2-for-4 with an RBI double during the Reds' 1-0 win over the Cubs on Sunday.
Lux was responsible for the game's only run, when his double off Jameson Taillon in the third inning brought Matt McLain home. Lux has logged at least one hit in five of his last six games, going 8-for-22 (.364) with two doubles, two runs and one RBI over that span.
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Ben Rice 1B | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Powers Yankees in win
Rice went 4-for-5 with a grand slam, a double and five total RBI in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Orioles in 10 innings.
Rice got the Yankees on the board in the sixth inning with a two-out RBI single, tying the game at 1-1, before delivering the decisive blast in the 10th inning, a 413-foot grand slam off lefty Keegan Akin to put New York ahead 5-1. Rice had just one home run in his last 20 games prior to Sunday, though he's gone 14-for-33 (.424) over his last 10 contests. Overall, Rice is slashing .252/.335/.488 with 24 homers, 62 RBI and 69 runs scored across 510 plate appearances this season.
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Moises Ballesteros DH | CHC
Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Taking seat against southpaw
Ballesteros is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Carlos Santana will step in at designated hitter in place of Ballesteros, who will sit for the second time in the series while the Reds send another lefty to the bump in Andrew Abbott. Since being called up from Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 9, Ballesteros has posted a .999 OPS over nine games. He should have a clear path to regular playing time against right-handed pitching while Kyle Tucker (calf) remains on the shelf.
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Christian Yelich DH | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: On bench Sunday
Yelich is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Yelich will dodge a same-handed matchup against southpaw Matthew Liberatore on Sunday, clearing a spot in the lineup at designated hitter for Rhys Hoskins. While starting in each of Milwaukee's previous 11 games, Yelich went 12-for-48 (.250 average) with two home runs.
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Masataka Yoshida DH | BOS
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Runs RBI streak to five games
Yoshida went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Rays.
Yoshida extended an RBI streak to five games when his single plated the second run in Boston's three-run ninth inning. He's knocked in six runs during the streak. September has been Yoshida's most productive month, as he's batting .302 (13-for-43) with nine RBI over 13 contests. He should see regular work as the designated hitter against right-handers over the final week of the regular season.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Bats leadoff
Pederson went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Miami.
Pederson batted leadoff for just the second time this season. He got on base in his first two plate appearances and scored after walking in the third inning. Josh Smith, who normally leads off for Texas, was dropped to sixth in the order. It's unclear if manager Bruce Bochy plans to continue using Pederson atop the order against right-handed pitching, or if this was a one-off decision.
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Jahmai Jones DH | DET
Tigers' Jahmai Jones: Tallies three hits in loss
Jones went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.
The Detroit outfielder got the start with Atlanta sending Joey Wentz to the mound, and as he often does, Jones delivered against a southpaw. He's sporting a .935 OPS with six home runs in 94 at-bats against opposite-handed pitching this season. His platoon role limits his fantasy ceiling, but Jones remains a good daily option versus lefties.
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Ivan Herrera DH | STL
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Will prep as catcher this offseason
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that Herrera will prepare exclusively as a catcher this offseason, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Herrera last saw action at catcher June 19, as he's been used as a full-time designated hitter since rejoining the Cardinals on July 13 following a stint on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. The move to the DH-only role was made in order to help keep Herrera healthy, but it was also due to his defensive shortcomings. Per Jim Hayes of FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Herrera will undergo elbow surgery this offseason to correct an issue that's prevented him from getting his arm in the proper position to make throws to second base. In addition to recovering from surgery, Herrera will focus on improving his game calling. Marmol noted that Herrera's chances of sticking at catcher will "play out" during spring training, but the team is heading into the offseason expecting him to factor into the picture behind the plate. Herrera will likely finish 2025 with 14 games played (13 starts) at catcher, so he won't have eligibility at the position in most fantasy leagues entering next season. However, he should have a good chance to regain that eligibility early on in 2026.