MLB Player News
-
Tim Anderson 2B | LAA
White Sox's Tim Anderson: Handed six-game suspension
Anderson was suspended six games Monday for his role in Saturday's brawl between the White Sox and Guardians, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Anderson ended up on the wrong side of his tussle with Cleveland's Jose Ramirez, but having essentially started the melee, he wound up with a suspension twice as long as his counterpart. Anderson is appealing the suspension, so it remains to be seen exactly how much time he will miss. He will be eligible to continue playing until a final decision is announced.
-
J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Smacks 10th homer
Crawford went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Sunday.
The veteran shortstop got the Mariners off on the right foot by sending the first pitch of the day 397 feet to center field for his 10th homer of the season. Crawford's blast established a new personal best in round trippers and extended his on-base streak to 12 games in the process. The 28-year-old's .787 OPS is also a career high and partly the byproduct of a 15.0 percent walk rate that's his highest since his 2017 rookie season in Philadelphia.
-
Nick Allen SS | HOU
Athletics' Nick Allen: Drills two homers
Allen went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Giants.
Allen knocked a two-run shot in the second inning followed by a solo homer in the fifth. Entering Sunday, the second-year infielder had just one home run through 59 games, and that long ball was hit May 16, 36 games ago. Even after the big performance, Allen is slashing .195/.240/.268 with 16 runs scored through 179 plate appearances.
-
Bo Bichette 3B | NYM
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Increasing activity level
Bichette (knee) took part in some throwing drills Saturday and continues to steadily increase the amount of intensity of his baseball activities since he was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
According to Zwelling, the Blue Jays hadn't ruled out the possibility of Bichette beginning a hitting progression Sunday if he bounced back well from Saturday's workout, though it's unclear whether he ended up swinging the bat to close out the weekend. In any case, Bichette appears to be responding well to treatment for the patellar tendinitis in his right knee, and while he remains without a clear timeline for a return, he seemingly has a chance at being activated from the IL shortly after he's first eligible Friday.
-
Jonathan Ornelas SS | ATL
Rangers' Jonathan Ornelas: Call-up imminent
Ornelas will be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Ornelas spent the start of the 2023 campaign at Round Rock and hit .250 with five homers, 54 runs, 39 RBI and nine stolen bases. He'll presumably serve in a depth role with the major-league club since Josh Jung (thumb) will likely require an IL stint.
-
Wander Franco SS | TB
Rays' Wander Franco: Another three-hit effort
Franco went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers.
Franco swatted his 15th home run of the season to put the Rays up 10-6 in the eighth inning. The 22-year-old shortstop has been on an absolute tear at the plate over the last 10 days, posting a .358 batting average while hitting four home runs, driving in five and scoring nine runs in 41 plate appearances. Franco's recent hot bat has propelled the Rays to three straight series wins, as he's looked to have potentially turned a corner entering the final stretch of the season.
-
Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Homers off bench
Duran went 1-for-1 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Marlins.
Duran entered the game after Josh Jung was lifted with a broken thumb. It's been a rough stretch since the All-Star break for Duran, who has gone 9-for-56 (.161) with a 7:20 BB:K and just four RBI in 18 games. With Jung likely out a minimum of four weeks, Duran and Josh Smith will have a chance to compete for playing time at third base, allowing Robbie Grossman to settle in at designated hitter. Duran's .281/.326/.482 slash line is better than Smith's .214/.344/.349 mark for the year, but neither has been particularly effective lately. Duran has added 14 homers, 39 RBI, 44 runs scored and six stolen bases through 325 plate appearances, though he'd likely be on the short side of a platoon if one emerges.
-
Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: On bench again Sunday
Duran is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Duran has now hit the bench three times in five games and may be losing hold of a regular spot in the lineup while he's mustered an underwhelming .145/.230/.218 slash line in 17 games since the All-Star break. Robbie Grossman will serve as the Rangers' designated hitter for a third game in a row and could end up serving as the primary replacement for Duran if the latter fails to show much improvement at the plate in the next handful of contests.
-
Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Gets rest day
Seager is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Seager is likely just receiving some maintenance after he started in each of the past four games upon being activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Josh Smith will step in at shortstop Sunday in place of a resting Seager, who has gone 5-for-16 with three home runs, one walk, six RBI and two additional runs since coming off the IL.
-
Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Scratched again Sunday
Baez (personal) was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Rays.
Baez was scratched from Detroit's starting nine for the second day in a row due to a recent death in his family. The 30-year-old could soon be placed on the bereavement list.