MLB Player News
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Wade Meckler LF | LAA
Angels' Wade Meckler: Playing time on downturn
Meckler will start in left field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Meckler is back in the starting nine for the series finale, but he appears to have firmly moved into a fourth- or fifth-outfielder role following Mike Trout's return from the injured list earlier this month. With Trout stepping back in as the everyday center fielder, Josh Lowe has been prioritized in left field ahead of Meckler, who was on the bench to start each of the last six contests. The drop in playing time is an unfortunate development for Meckler, who has held his own since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on May 22 with a .302/.371/.411 slash line across 143 plate appearances.
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Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Angels' Jorge Soler: Taking seat Wednesday
Soler is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Soler drove in two runs in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals, but he's put up a .472 OPS with no home runs across his last 18 games. The Angels will give Jo Adell a day at designated hitter, and Wade Meckler will grab a start in the outfield.
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Donovan Walton 2B | ATH
Athletics' Donovan Walton: Playing regularly versus RHP
Walton will start at second base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Walton was on the bench for each of the last three games while the Athletics faced left-handed starters, but he's been included in the lineup for all three of the team's matchups versus righties since he was claimed off waivers July 12. Between his stops with the Angels and Athletics, Walton has posted an .868 OPS over 111 plate appearances on the season. While he remains productive at the dish, Walton could play fairly regularly against righties until the Athletics reclaim some health in the infield.
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Denzer Guzman 3B | LAA
Angels' Denzer Guzman: Out of lineup again Wednesday
Guzman is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Cardinals.
Guzman could be losing his grip on the third-base job, as this is the third time over the Angels' last four games that he's been out of the lineup. Vaughn Grissom is handling third base and Oswald Peraza will play second base in Wednesday's series finale.
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Henry Bolte CF | ATH
Athletics' Henry Bolte: Heading to bench Wednesday
Bolte is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Bolte will retreat to the bench for the series finale after he had started in each of the last three games while going just 1-for-9 at the dish. Lawrence Butler will cover center field in place of the rookie, who has struggled to a .152/.204/.239 slash line in July and has yet to steal a base this month.
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Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Left out of lineup Wednesday
O'Hoppe is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
O'Hoppe started at catcher in the first two games of the series, so he'll get a breather during Wednesday's matinee. Tyler Heineman will be behind the plate and will bat ninth as the Angels try to complete the sweep.
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Johnathan Rodriguez RF | PIT
Orioles' Johnathan Rodriguez: Joins major-league roster
The Orioles recalled Rodriguez from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.
Rodriguez is hitless in 11 plate appearances with the Orioles this season and has produced a .270/.370/.391 batting line with four home runs in 62 contests with Norfolk. The right-handed-hitting outfielder could see some reps versus lefty hurlers.
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Sent to IL with inflamed shoulder
The Orioles placed Basallo on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder inflammation.
The Orioles had seemed optimistic that Basallo could return to action in short order, but they've opted to play things conservatively. Basallo will be eligible for activation July 31, and he has a good chance to be ready to go on that date if all goes well on his rehab. With Adley Rutschman (wrist) also out, the Orioles are down to Sam Huff and Chadwick Tromp at catcher.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Remains out Wednesday
Crawford (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Reds.
Crawford has been held out of action for all three games against the Reds as he battles a sore left wrist. He'll get an additional day of rest Thursday with the Mariners idle, and the club could make a determination at that point whether Crawford needs a stint on the injured list. Weston Wilson is handling third base again Wednesday in Crawford's stead.
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Julio Rodriguez CF | SEA
Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Back in Seattle lineup
Rodriguez (leg) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Reds.
Rodriguez didn't start Tuesday's contest due to a minor leg issue, but he clubbed a home run off the bench and is back in there for the series finale. Luke Raley will shift to center field and Dominic Canzone will play right field while Rodriguez eases back into things at DH.