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Bo Bichette 3B | NYM
Mets' Bo Bichette: Sitting again Saturday
Bichette isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox.
Bichette will step out of the lineup for a second consecutive game after not missing a game this season prior to Friday. Brett Baty will slide over to third base while Bichette sits, opening up second base for Zack Short.
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Zach Thornton SP | NYM
Mets' Zach Thornton: Set to join rotation Sunday
Thornton is expected to be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to pitch in Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Thornton will likely start or serve as a bulk reliever in Sunday's first-half finale, but the Mets haven't revealed their plans for the 24-year-old just yet. The southpaw has previously made two starts in the majors this season, giving up five earned runs while striking out 10 batters and walking three across 10.1 innings. Although he hasn't yet been able to claim a regular spot in the New York rotation, that could change within the next couple of weeks, depending on what moves the Mets make ahead of the trade deadline.
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Edwin Diaz RP | LAD
Dodgers' Edwin Diaz: Beginning rehab assignment
Diaz (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Ontario on Saturday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Diaz began facing hitters in live batting practice last weekend and is now ready for the final step in his rehab from the elbow surgery he underwent in April. It's unclear exactly how many minor-league reps the Dodgers want the 32-year-old closer to get before he rejoins the team, but he seems to be on track to return to the big-league bullpen shortly after the All-Star break.
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Drew Gilbert CF | SF
Giants' Drew Gilbert: Doubles in defeat
Gilbert went 1-for-4 with a double in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Rockies.
After going hitless in his previous two games, Gilbert lined a double to left field in the fourth inning. Across 17 plate appearances in July, he's batting .313 with three RBI, two doubles and a home run. Overall, the 25-year-old outfielder is slashing .235/.319/.377 with 21 runs scored, 19 RBI and four long balls in 209 plate appearances this season.
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James Wood RF | WAS
Nationals' James Wood: Goes yard again Friday
Wood went 3-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees.
The 23-year-old superstar took Tim Hill deep in the seventh inning to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead, but the bullpen blew another save in the ninth. Wood has left the yard six times in the last 10 games, slashing .417/.571/1.056 over that sizzling stretch, and his total of 26 homers on the season in just 95 games is five shy of the career high he set in 2025.
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Zack Littell RP | ARI
Nationals' Zack Littell: Comes away with no-decision Friday
Littell didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees, allowing one run on five hits over four innings of relief. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander put together one of his better outings of the season, tossing 49 of 69 pitches for strikes after taking over in the fourth inning from opener Carson Palmquist, but the Nationals' bullpen cost Littell his eighth win of the season with another meltdown in the ninth. He's given up two runs of fewer in four straight starts, heading into the All-Star break with a 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB through 19 innings over that stretch.
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PJ Poulin RP | WAS
Nationals' PJ Poulin: Opening Saturday
Poulin will serve as the opening pitcher in Saturday's game against the Yankees, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Poulin will receive his 11th opening assignment of the season and will likely remain in the game for an inning or two before turning the game over to bulk reliever Miles Mikolas. Poulin has given up just two runs in 10.1 innings since coming up from the minors in mid-June and carries a 2.83 ERA through 35 frames on the year.
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Derek Hill CF | PHI
Phillies' Derek Hill: Big effort in Friday's loss
Hill went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's 10-2 loss to the Tigers.
Getting a rare start in center field against a right-hander pitcher after Justin Crawford (knee) was scratched, Hill accounted for all of Philly's offense on the night, including a solo shot off Jack Flaherty in the third inning. Over 48 plate appearances since being picked up from the White Sox in June, Hill's produced an impressive .356/.383/.600 slash line with three homers, seven RBI and nine runs, but his 2:19 BB:K suggests that level is unsustainable even if he remains in a short-side platoon role.
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Aaron Nola SP | PHI
Phillies' Aaron Nola: Fans eight in no-decision
Nola didn't factor into the decision Friday, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings as the Phillies fell 10-2 to the Tigers. He struck out eight.
The veteran right-hander was lifted after 84 pitches (50 strikes) with the score tied 2-2, falling short of his sixth quality start of the season, only to see his bullpen implode. Nola has struggled to put together a consistent stretch of success this season, but he's lasted at least five innings and allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last five outings, posting a 5.47 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB over 26.1 innings during that span.
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Jackson Chourio LF | MIL
Brewers' Jackson Chourio: Opening twin bill on bench
Chourio isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Pittsburgh.
Chourio will begin Saturday's festivities in the dugout after going 3-for-21 with an RBI and three runs scored during the Brewers' last series against St. Louis. Luis Lara will fill in as Milwaukee's left fielder and bat sixth.