MLB Player News
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Alan Roden RF | MIN
Twins' Alan Roden: Season comes to end
The Twins transferred Roden (thumb) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Minnesota placed Roden on the 10-day IL on Friday due to a left thumb sprain, and though he had been scheduled to meet with a hand specialist before his next steps were determined, the Twins have already elected to rule him out for the season. After being acquired from the Blue Jays ahead of the trade deadline, Roden hit just .158/.200/.263 with an 0:13 BB:K in 12 games for Minnesota. He'll likely have to compete for a strong-side platoon role in the Twins outfield next spring.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Resting Sunday
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Higashioka will get a breather for the series finale after starting behind the plate Friday. Jonah Heim will form a battery with starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi on Sunday.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Back in lineup Sunday
Pena (illness) is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff Sunday against the Orioles, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Pena sat out the previous two contests due to an illness but is good to go for Sunday's series finale. The 27-year-old has a .283/.340/.500 slash line with two homers and two steals through 12 games in August.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Sitting out against righty
Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Texas included him in the initial lineup released for Sunday's contest, but Pederson was scratched for non-health-related reasons, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News. Rowdy Tellez will fill in as the designated hitter.
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Romy Gonzalez DH | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Could be top option at 1B
Gonzalez will start at first base and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Abraham Toro is also in the lineup Sunday as a replacement at third base for the resting Alex Bregman, but Gonzalez seems to have emerged as the Red Sox's preferred option at first base. Despite facing right-handed pitchers in each of the last three contests, Gonzalez started in each of those contests -- twice at first base and once at second -- while the switch-hitting Toro was included in the lineup just once. Since the start of August, Gonzalez has produced a .773 OPS, well ahead of Toro's .471 mark during that same period.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Logs three hits, two RBI in loss
Burger went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI in Saturday's 14-2 loss to the Blue Jays.
Burger logged his second multi-hit game in last three outings and has made an impact since coming off the injured list earlier this month. In eight games since his return, Burger is 8-for-18 (.444) with a double, a home run and five RBI.
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Red Sox's Alex Bregman: Receiving Sunday off
Bregman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Bregman will check out of the starting nine for the first time since July 30 in what appears to be a routine day off. Abraham Toro will cover third base in Bregman's stead Sunday.
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Ezequiel Duran SS | TEX
Rangers' Ezequiel Duran: Fills in at second base
Duran started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a double in Saturday's 14-2 loss to Toronto.
Duran stepped in at second base for the injured Marcus Semien (wrist), who was hit by a pitch Friday and held out Saturday. X-rays on Semien's wrist came back negative, and he'll be re-evaluated ahead of Sunday's series finale. While Duran can play multiple positions, second base is not high on his list of appearances. He's played 22 games there during his career, and only twice this season.
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C.J. Kayfus LF | CLE
Guardians' C.J. Kayfus: Scuffling after strong start
Kayfus went 1-for-4 in Saturday's 10-1 loss to Atlanta.
Kayfus, who got off to a strong start in the majors, has hit the skids of late. Over the last six games, the rookie has gone 2-for-18 (.111) with a 25.0 percent strikeout rate. Overall, Kayfus has struck out 14 times in 44 plate appearances (31.8 percent).
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Jose Caballero SS | NYY
Yankees' Jose Caballero: Thriving with more playing time
Caballero went 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs and two stolen bases against the Cardinals in a 12-8 victory Saturday.
Caballero started in right field for the second straight game, as Giancarlo Stanton got another day off. The speedy utility player has taken advantage of the sudden opportunity, reaching base six times over nine plate appearances while swiping four bases. Given that production, he may begin to see his playing time tick up -- in fact, Caballero is back in the lineup Sunday, this time starting at shortstop in place of Anthony Volpe.