MLB Player News
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Ezequiel Duran 2B | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Fills in at 2B
Duran started at second base and went 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Yankees.
Duran got the start in place of primary second baseman Josh Smith, who got the first of a "couple of days off," per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Smith is scuffling with a slash line of .193/.306/.217 through 98 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Duran has been a useful fill-in at multiple positions and slashed .288/.354/.424 over 65 plate appearances.
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Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Homers again Wednesday
Contreras went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays.
Contreras' first-inning blast off Eric Lauer, his seventh homer this season, proved to be all the offense the Red Sox could muster Wednesday. Contreras has been one of Boston's few bright spots early this year -- he's gone 7-for-19 (.368) with three homers and a 1.330 OPS in his last five games, boosting his slash line to .262/.375/.486 with 20 RBI and 16 runs scored through his first 128 plate appearances.
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Sam Haggerty LF | TEX
Rangers' Sam Haggerty: Enters game following injury
Haggerty entered Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Yankees as a pinch runner, stayed in the game, and then went 1-for-1 with an RBI.
Haggerty replaced Brandon Nimmo (hamstring) and stayed in to play left field. Nimmo is expected to undergo testing, the results of which will inform Haggerty's role going forward. He hasn't played much in 2026, starting six times with just 25 at-bats over 18 games played.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Swipes bag in win
Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Rays.
Ramirez doubled and stole third base in the seventh inning, which upped his season total to 12 steals, tied for second in MLB. After a crime spree in which he stole nine bases in an 11-game span, Wednesday's theft was his first in seven contests.
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Chase DeLauter RF | CLE
Guardians' Chase DeLauter: Knocks in two in win
DeLauter went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Tampa Bay.
DeLauter's two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning turned out to be the difference for the Guardians. He extended a hit streak to five games and is batting .357 (10-for-28) with six RBI over the last eight contests. The outfielder experienced peaks and valleys through March and April, but it's not surprising from a player getting his first extended look at MLB pitching. DeLauter enters May slashing .257/.345/.485 with five home runs, 18 RBI and 12 runs over 29 games.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Homers in win
Crawford went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-3 victory over the Twins.
Crawford opened the scoring in the third inning with his two-out homer off Taj Bradley, his second this year. It was also the first multi-hit game for Crawford since April 22 -- he'd gone just 2-for-17 in five games prior to Wednesday. The veteran infielder is now slashing .200./366/.313 with seven RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base across 101 plate appearances this season.
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Austin Hays LF | CHW
White Sox's Austin Hays: First hits since return
Hays went 2-for-5 on Wednesday against the Angels.
Hays returned from the injured list Monday, though Wednesday marked his first start. He notched a pair of singles to record his first multi-hit game of the campaign. While he has been used primarily as a reserve option this season, Hays should see an uptick in playing time due to Everson Pereira (pectoral) now being sidelined.
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Lawrence Butler RF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Blasts homer in win
Butler went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Royals.
Butler got a day off Tuesday amid a 1-for-14 skid at the plate. The outfielder bounced back with a fourth-inning blast Wednesday, which ended up being all the offense the Athletics needed to get this win. He's still batting just .187 with a .568 OPS, three homers, 12 RBI, nine runs scored, two doubles and four stolen bases on six attempts over 28 contests this season. Butler's struggles at the plate have kept him in a strong-side platoon role. He probably won't challenge for many at-bats against southpaws, but his playing time against right-handers appears to be safe for now.
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Mark Leiter RP | ATH
Athletics' Mark Leiter: Nabs third save
Leiter walked one and struck out one without giving up a run over one-third of an inning, earning the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Royals.
Joel Kuhnel entered the game in relief of starter Luis Severino in the eighth inning when the Athletics were up 5-1. In the ninth, Kuhnel created some trouble and allowed a run on two hits and a sacrifice fly. Leiter was brought in and closed the door, earning his first save since April 14. Over his last six outings, Leiter has covered five innings, surrendering one run on four hits and three walks while adding six strikeouts. He's part of the closing committee, and this save has Leiter within one of Kuhnel for the team lead in saves. Leiter is at a 6.23 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 13 innings while adding three saves in five chances and one hold over 15 appearances.