MLB Player News
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Trey Sweeney SS | DET
Tigers' Trey Sweeney: Heading to Triple-A
The Tigers optioned Sweeney to Triple-A Toledo following Friday's 4-1 loss to the Twins.
Sweeney will give up his spot on the 26-man active roster for outfielder/infielder Matt Vierling (shoulder), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Sweeney has a .594 OPS with two steals, four home runs and 23 RBI in 225 plate appearances this season, and he had seen his playing time diminish since Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez returned from the IL in early June, which resulted in Javier Baez shifting from the outfield to shortstop. Sweeney will get more regular playing time in Triple-A and could be recalled by the Tigers should they need to bolster their depth in the infield later on this season.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Collects two hits in loss
Smith started at first base and went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double and a two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Mariners.
Smith made a third consecutive start at first base with Jake Burger (oblique) on the 10-day injured list. All three starts have come against righties, which is the typical pattern for the lefty-hitting Smith. June is shaping up to his best month, as he sports a .910 OPS with 10 extra-base hits and nine RBI over 19 games this month.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Slugs eighth homer
Seager went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and three walks during Friday's 7-6 loss to the Mariners.
Seager sent his eighth home run out of the yard in the first inning and also drew a season-high three walks. The 31-year-old has a homer and RBI in back-to-back contests, and he has now driven in 18 on the season. It's been a down season for the 11-year veteran, as his .242/.336/.403 slash line is on track to be his worst as a big leaguer.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Launches 11th home run
Witt went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Witt's two-run home run clinched the 25-year-old's first multi-RBI outing in 15 games. At just over the halfway point of the season, the young shortstop is piecing together another good campaign, slashing .277/.332/.483 and driving in 42 on the season which puts him on pace for 84 on the year. Those numbers aren't quite at the same level as last regular season, when he put up a .977 OPS and 109 RBI.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Three knocks Friday
Crawford went 3-for-6 with two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-innings win over Texas.
Crawford tallied multiple hits for the 10th time in the month of June. The 30-year-old shortstop has led off for the Mariners consistently since the end of April, batting .286 with four home runs, eight doubles, 22 runs scored, 31 walks and four stolen bases across his last 196 at-bats (50 games).
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Four hits, triple in huge win
Henderson went 4-for-6 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a triple in Friday's 22-8 victory over the Rays.
The triple was Henderson's third of the year, and he piled up a season-high four knocks. The star shortstop got off to a rough start at the plate following a delayed beginning to the year due to an intercostal injury, as he was batting .220 and slugging .380 through April 18, but he's rounded into form since. Over his last 264 plate appearances, Henderson is slashing .292/.375/.459 with 21 extra-base hits, 24 RBI, 35 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Avoids serious injury
Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters after Friday's 7-4 win over the Cubs that imaging on Pena's ribs came back negative and did not show any fracture, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena took a pitch to his left ribs in the second inning of Friday's game and was eventually replaced by Mauricio Dubon in the fifth. Pena should be considered day-to-day, and he could be available to pinch hit off the bench if he's not in Saturday's lineup. He went 0-for-2 before exiting Friday's contest.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Exits game after HBP
Pena was removed from Friday's game against the Cubs due to left rib soreness, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena was hit by a pitch to his left rib area during the second inning, and he initially stayed in the game until the fifth inning, when Mauricio Dubon came in to pinch hit. Pena will undergo further tests, and an update on his injury should be made available during or shortly after the conclusion of Friday's contest.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Sitting Friday
Neto (shoulder) is not in the Angels' starting lineup against the Nationals on Friday, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Neto jammed his right shoulder during a stolen-game base attempt in Tuesday's game against the Red Sox. The good news for the 24-year-old is that MRI results came back negative, but he will be held out of the lineup for Friday's series opener. Kevin Newman will draw the start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Taylor Walls 3B | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Sitting Friday
Walls is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.
Walls will yield to Jose Caballero at shortstop Friday for the third time in five games. Walls is 5-for-19 (.263) with six RBI and a stolen base over his last five games.