MLB Player News
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Matt McLain 2B | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Receives rare rest day
McLain is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.
McLain went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Sunday's loss to the Diamondbacks, so manager David Bell decided it was time for McLain's first day off since Aug. 7. Elly De La Cruz will slide over and cover the shortstop position in McLain's place.
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Vaughn Grissom 1B | LAA
Braves' Vaughn Grissom: Headed back to minors
Grissom was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Grissom made just two starts after taking Ozzie Albies' spot on the roster when the latter landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain. With Albies now back in the fold, Grissom will return to Gwinnett to play regularly.
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Casey Schmitt LF | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Ends homer drought
Schmitt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-5 win over Atlanta.
Schmitt homered twice over his first three major-league games, but that was it for his power until Sunday. The homer drought lasted 71 contests. The infielder is at a .199/.252/.292 slash line with 26 RBI, 23 runs scored, two stolen bases and 11 doubles through 236 plate appearances this season. Schmitt appears to have a lock on a short-side platoon role at third base while providing cover around the infield as a strong defender, but he hasn't hit well enough (2-for-19 in August) to justify a full-time role for a team in the wild-card chase.
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Alika Williams SS | ATH
Pirates' Alika Williams: Retreats to bench Sunday
Williams is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Williams will take a seat after he started each of the Pirates' last seven games at shortstop while going 5-for-20 with two doubles, two walks, two runs and two RBI. Liover Peguero will spell him at shortstop in the series finale, but Williams appears to be the Pirates' preferred option at the position since Ji Hwan Bae returned from the injured list to take over as the Bucs' primary second baseman.
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Masyn Winn SS | STL
Cardinals' Masyn Winn: Not in lineup Sunday
Winn is not in the lineup Sunday at Philadelphia.
Tommy Edman will start at shortstop and bat leadoff as Nolan Gorman covers second base and Richie Palacios patrols center field. Winn, 21, has gone 5-for-29 (.172) with zero home runs and one stolen base through his first eight major-league games.
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Joey Wendle 2B | ATL
Marlins' Joey Wendle: Takes seat Sunday
Wendle is not in the lineup Sunday against the Nationals.
Jon Berti will start at shortstop and bat ninth versus the Nats and right-hander Trevor Williams. Wendle went 0-for-2 in the Marlins' loss to Washington on Saturday and holds a weak .229/.264/.325 slash line across 268 total plate appearances this year.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Goes deep in loss
Bogaerts went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.
In another quiet performance by San Diego's offense, Bogaerts provided an early spark with his second-inning solo shot. The shortstop has been flashing more power of late, going deep three times in his past six games. However, he has only one other hit and no walks while batting just .174 over that span.
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Noelvi Marte RF | CIN
Reds' Noelvi Marte: Collects fourth steal
Marte went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.
Marte has seen regular playing time since he was called up a week ago. He's hitting a modest .227 (5-for-22) with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored, though he's also logged four steals. His speed was on display with 18 thefts over 89 contests in the minors this year prior to his promotion. Marte has mostly played at third base, moving Elly De La Cruz into a more permanent role at shortstop while Matt McLain handles second base.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Nabs 22nd steal
De La Cruz went 0-for-4 with two walks, two stolen bases and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-7 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks.
De La Cruz has done a lot of things since rising to the majors, but he hasn't shown a lot of patience at the plate with a 7.2 percent walk rate and 34.3 percent strikeout rate. The infielder's pair of walks Saturday accounted for just the fourth time he's drawn multiple walks in a game. He's still finding a fair amount of success with a .248/.304/.447 slash line, 22 steals, 11 home runs, 33 RBI and 52 runs scored over his first 69 contests.