MLB Player News
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Back in lineup Thursday
Baez (hip) will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Thursday's game versus the Mariners.
Baez was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's 3-2 win over Seattle due to a hip issue, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Thursday's series finale. The Tigers will be going for a three-game sweep.
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Launches homer No. 30
Henderson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Nationals.
The 23-year-old shortstop took DJ Herz deep in the first inning, and it proved to be all the offense that Dean Kremer and the Baltimore bullpen would need. Henderson is slashing .306/.358/.490 through 12 games in August, and Wednesday's homer gave him 30 for the season, the first time -- but almost certainly not the last -- he's reached that mark in his career.
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Taylor Walls 3B | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Two steals in Wednesday's loss
Walls went 1-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and one run scored in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Astros.
Walls had one of the Rays' two hits in the contest. The shortstop has managed to log four steals on five attempts over 11 games in August while batting .269 (7-for-26) this month. It's a welcome sign of success at the plate when compared to his meager .169/.290/.231 slash line for the year. Walls has added nine steals, four RBI, 16 runs scored and no home runs over 155 plate appearances. With third-base prospect Junior Caminero replacing Curtis Mead in the majors, Walls' playing time could take a hit since Jose Caballero will likely have to get more of his time at shortstop moving forward.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Goes deep again Wednesday
Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Rays.
Pena has found his power with three homers over the last four games, and this was the first time in that span he's failed to record multiple hits. The shortstop is up to 12 homers on the year, including five since the All-Star break. He's added a .278/.322/.405 slash line with 56 RBI, 61 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 20 doubles and one triple over 118 contests.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Receiving Wednesday off
Neto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
The 23-year-old's trip to the bench will end a run of 30 straight starts, during which he slashed .343/.442/.608 with seven doubles, six homers, eight steals, 22 RBI and 21 runs. Luis Guillorme will start at shortstop and bat eighth Wednesday while Neto sits.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Managing hip issue
Baez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners due to right hip discomfort, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Baez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during Tuesday's contest, and it's unclear when he suffered the injury. The 31-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status. Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop Wednesday with Baez banged up.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Homers, reaches three times
Witt went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's win against the Twins. He was also caught stealing.
Witt took Louie Varland deep in the third inning to record his 24th home run of the season. Witt exited Monday's game early with a bruised forearm, but he did not miss a beat as he continues to dominate in August. The 24-year-old is already up to five home runs this month with 13 RBI, 11 runs scored and a pristine .347 batting average in 12 games played.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Scratched Wednesday
Baez was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners for unspecified reasons.
Baez was scheduled to start at shortstop and bat ninth, but he's now been removed from the starting nine. It's unclear if he's dealing with an injury, but an update should be provided in the near future. Justyn-Henry Malloy will enter the lineup in Baez's place and start in left field, pushing Zach McKinstry to shortstop.
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Jose Caballero 2B | NYY
Rays' Jose Caballero: Heading to bench Wednesday
Caballero is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The promotion of Junior Caminero from Triple-A Durham earlier this week means that Caballero's opportunities at third base will be limited moving forward, but Caballero started at shortstop Tuesday and could also have avenues to playing time at second base or in the corner outfield. He'll exit the starting nine Wednesday, but Caballero's standing as a near-everyday player still appears fairly stable for now.
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Brayan Rocchio SS | CLE
Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Regaining playing time
Rocchio will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Rocchio has now started in three consecutive matchups with a right-handed pitcher and seems to have supplanted Daniel Schneemann -- who has hit the bench in two of those contests -- as the Guardians' preferred option at shortstop. While his .726 OPS since the beginning of August is a stark improvement over his season-long mark of .608, Rocchio's grip on an everyday role would still seem to be tenuous.