MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: In lineup against lefty
Smith started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Pirates.
Smith usually takes a seat on the bench when the Rangers face a left-hander, as they did Sunday against Pittsburgh's Bailey Falter. Texas manager Bruce Bochy typically runs with Kyle Higashioka or Ezequiel Duran at DH against lefties. Smith has a .565 OPS against left-handers as opposed to .843 against righties.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Delivers run in win
Arias went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Athletics.
Arias drove in the only run the Guardians would need with a second-inning single and then scored on a Nolan Jones double. Arias' offensive contributions have been few since early May, when he took over at shortstop after Brayan Rocchio was sent down to Triple-A Columbus. Arias sports a .177/.250/.274 line with one home run and 11 RBI over the last 36 games. In the same number of games in the minors, Rocchio has performed adequately for the Clippers, posting an .852 OPS with 17 extra-base hits, 24 RBI and 24 runs. Guardians' shortstops rank last in average (.181), on-base percentage (.249) and slugging (.251).
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Goes yard again
Lindor went 2-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Phillies.
Lindor homered for a second straight game, following up Saturday's solo shot with a solo homer off Max Lazar in the eighth inning Sunday. Lindor supplied two of the Mets' four hits on the day. Since the start of June, Lindor is 17-for-74 (.230) with four home runs and three stolen bases.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Pair of extra-base hits
Pena went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI double and an additional run scored during Sunday's 8-7 win over the Angels.
Pena tagged Kyle Hendricks for a solo shot in the fifth inning, then plated Luis Guillorme on a double in the sixth. Pena has homered twice in his last three games, and he has 11 long balls on the season. In his last five games, Pena has gone 10-for-23 (.435) with six RBI and four runs.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Getting rare day off
Neto is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
The absence ends a run of 24 straight starts for Neto, who struggled to a .245/.287/.373 slash line with just two homers and four steals during that stretch. Kevin Newman will make his return from a minor ankle injury and start at shortstop in Sunday's series finale.
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Dansby Swanson SS | CHC
Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Getting first day off of season
Swanson is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
After starting Chicago's first 76 games, Swanson will get his first day off of the season Sunday, with Nico Hoerner getting the nod at shortstop in his stead. Swanson played in at least 147 games in both of his first two years with the Cubs, and he played in all 162 games during his last season in Atlanta back in 2022. Swanson should return to the lineup Monday in St. Louis.
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Taylor Walls 3B | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Getting rest Sunday
Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
After going 3-for-9 with a double, four RBI and a run while starting the first two games of the series, Walls will get a breather. Jose Caballero will step in at shortstop.
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Taking seat Sunday
Volpe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Volpe snapped a hitless streak of 22 at-bats by going 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 9-0 win, but he'll receive Sunday off after a run of 13 consecutive starts. Oswald Peraza will step in at shortstop and bat ninth for the Yankees in the series finale versus Baltimore.
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Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Scores run in loss
Duran started at first base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.
The utility player is expected to serve as the Rangers' primary option at first base after Jake Burger (oblique) landed on the injured list Saturday. Duran's opportunities have picked up over the last week, as Josh Smith dealt with a hamstring injury and Josh Jung was given a multi-day mental break. Duran's had effective offensive stretches while with the Rangers -- most notably in 2023 when he posted a .767 OPS with 14 home runs and eight steals in 122 games -- but he hasn't gained regular traction in the big-league lineup over the past season and a half.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Swats 17th homer in loss
De La Cruz went 2-for-5 with a triple and a two-run home run in Saturday's loss against the Cardinals.
De La Cruz was thrown out at home in the third inning while attempting to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park homer, but he made up for it with a towering blast in the seventh inning. The switch-hitting shortstop has been scorching hot in June, slashing .313/.413/.688 with 11 extra-base hits and 12 RBI over his last 18 games. He entered the month with a .763 OPS and has raised it to .838.