MLB Player News
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Lawrence Butler RF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sitting against southpaw
Butler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
The 25-year-old outfielder doesn't always hit the bench against left-handed starting pitchers, but he'll do so Sunday with Nick Lodolo taking the mound for Cincinnati. Butler has a .584 OPS in 111 plate appearances versus southpaws this season, but he's been productive overall through 10 games in September with a .361/.439/.528 slash line.
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Tyler Soderstrom LF | ATH
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: On bench again Sunday
Soderstrom (groin) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Reds.
The 23-year-old is sitting for a third consecutive game after being scratched from the lineup Friday due to groin tightness. Soderstom will also have Monday's team off day to recover prior to Tuesday's series opener in Boston. Max Schuemann is receiving a start in left field Sunday for the A's.
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Chandler Simpson LF | TB
Rays' Chandler Simpson: Sitting against southpaw
Simpson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Simpson started the previous seven games but will take a seat for the series finale in Chicago. The rookie outfielder batted .333 (9-for-27) during that stretch but is without an extra-base hit in his past 17 contests. Christopher Morel is starting in left field and batting cleanup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga.
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Jake Mangum LF | PIT
Rays' Jake Mangum: Taking seat Sunday
Mangum is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Mangum started the previous five games but will take a seat for Sunday's series finale in Chicago. Barring an appearance off the bench, the 29-year-old's nine-game hit streak, during which he has a .406/.441/.438 slash line, will be put on pause.
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Michael Helman SS | TEX
Rangers' Michael Helman: Out of Sunday's lineup
Helman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Helman's absence from the lineup ends a run of six straight starts, during which he went 7-for-19 with two doubles, two homers and nine RBI. Adolis Garcia (quadriceps) is making his return from the injured list Sunday, with Wyatt Langford and Alejandro Osuna rounding out Texas' outfield. Helman and Osuna are the likely candidates to see reduced playing time with Garcia now healthy, but both players have been productive of late, with Osuna carrying a .346 average in September.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Taking seat Sunday
Burger is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Burger started the previous nine games and will receive a day off after posting a .953 OPS with four homers during that span. Rowdy Tellez will instead start at first base in the series finale for Texas.
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Davis Schneider LF | TOR
Blue Jays' Davis Schneider: Playing time on rise
Schneider will start in left field and bat second in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
The Blue Jays have mainly used Schneider in the short side of a platoon this season, but he'll stick in the lineup Sunday for a fourth straight contest and for a third consecutive matchup with a right-handed starter (Albert Suarez). Schneider seems to be pushing Nathan Lukes and Joey Loperfido for playing time in the corner outfield, but all three players could be in line for role reductions once Anthony Santander (shoulder/back) returns from the 60-day injured list, perhaps as soon as next weekend.
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Dustin Harris LF | HOU
Rangers' Dustin Harris: Returns to minors
Harris was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
In Harris' most recent stint with the Rangers, he went 1-for-5 with a double over three games. The outfielder has struggled while up with the big-league club this season, posting a .606 OPS with a home run, three doubles, two RBI, a stolen base and a 30.2 percent strikeout rate across 43 plate appearances. His demotion Sunday was the corresponding move to Adolis Garcia (quadriceps) being activated from the injured list.
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Nathan Lukes RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On bench versus righty
Lukes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Since the beginning of September, Lukes has produced a .485 OPS over nine games, and his downturn in productivity could result in him moving into more of a part-time role over the final two weeks of the season. The left-handed-hitting outfielder will be on the bench for the second time in the series, despite the fact that the Orioles are sending a righty (Albert Suarez) to the hill.