MLB Player News
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Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: On base twice, steals bag
Duran went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-3 loss to San Diego.
Duran was back in the lineup at shortstop after receiving a one-day respite. He walked and stole his sixth base in the fourth inning before coming home on a throwing error. He later scored on Marcus Semien's two-run single. Duran's production has dropped off since coming back from the break, posting a .167 average (7-for-42) with three RBI over the last 12 games.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Two hits, two runs in loss
Baez went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Marlins.
Baez entered the contest batting just .182 over his previous 10 games, so this was a step in the right direction. The shortstop is still batting just .225 for the season with a .594 OPS, making it another disappointing campaign in his second year with the Tigers. Baez may still make a splash here and there, though it's hard to trust him as a consistent fantasy performer at this point given his struggles in 2022 and 2023.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Homers, scores three runs
Crawford went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, a double, three runs scored and two walks in Sunday's win over Arizona.
Crawford belted a solo homer in the second inning between crossing home in the first and ninth frames. He's having a terrific month, going 31-for-91 (.341) with 14 extra-base hits and 15 runs scored through 24 July games. Crawford's season slash line is up to .265/.376/.413 through 418 plate appearances. His ninth home run of the year Sunday tied his career high set in 2021.
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Yu Chang SS | TB
Red Sox's Yu Chang: Takes seat in series finale
Chang is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Pablo Reyes will step in at shortstop after Chang manned the position for each of the last 11 games while slashing .194/.242/.355. Both Chang and Reyes are expected to see more limited opportunities at shortstop in the near future, as Trevor Story (elbow) appears on track to return from the 60-day injured list at some point during the upcoming week.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at short
Smith started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Saturday's 4-0 loss to San Diego.
The seldom-used Smith made his third start in the last six games. He replaced Ezequiel Duran, who is the primary fill-in at shortstop for the injured Corey Seager (thumb). With Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reporting that Seager could starting swinging a bat Monday or Tuesday, Smith's path to plate appearances could dry up this week.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Still out Sunday
Neto (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Neto will be relegated to the bench for the seventh time in eight games while he continues to manage a stiff back. Luis Rengifo will once again serve as the Angels' leadoff man in the rookie's stead, while Andrew Velazquez fills in for Neto at shortstop.
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Tim Anderson 2B | LAA
White Sox's Tim Anderson: Finally finds power stroke
Anderson went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Guardians.
He hadn't gone yard in over a calendar year, but Anderson ended the drought by driving a Logan Allen fastball deep to left field in the first inning. The shortstop appears to be on the trade block with the deadline approaching, so he's picked the right time to catch fire at the plate -- since the All-Star break, Anderson's slashing .351/.413/.439, a far cry from his .245/.286/.293 line on the season.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Another four-hit performance
Witt went 4-for-5 with a triple, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's 10-7 win over the Twins.
The 23-year-old continues to rake, putting together his second straight four-hit effort and fifth multi-hit performance in the last seven games. Witt is slashing .330/.350/.649 in a blistering July with six of his 18 homers and six of his 29 steals on the season, along with 12 runs and 21 RBI in 23 contests.
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Wander Franco SS | TB
Rays' Wander Franco: Ends power drought
Franco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the Astros.
Franco went deep in the eighth inning to record his 12th homer of the season, and the first in his last 15 starts. He entered Saturday's game hitting only .145 in that span to go along with three RBI and four runs scored. Franco also snapped a 16-game stretch without a stolen base, and his 29 swiped bags on the season have been his primary source of fantasy value.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Receives cortisone injection
Seager (thumb) received a cortisone injection Friday and could start swinging a bat within the next couple days, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The 29-year-old landed on the injured list July 22 with a sprained right thumb, and he's nearing his return to baseball activities after briefly sporting a splint. Seager initially believed his absence wouldn't last more than two weeks, and a return next weekend against the Marlins still appears possible if he's able to swing with no issues early this week.