MLB Player News
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Zac Gallen SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Pushed to Friday due to fatigue
Gallen's next start was pushed back a day to Friday in San Diego due to fatigue/illness, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
It was Gallen's turn Thursday versus the Dodgers, but he's dealt with an illness during his last two starts that's sapped his strength. His performance in those outings appeared unaffected, as the righty yielded four runs with a 15:3 K:BB over 13 innings, but the Diamondbacks nonetheless made the decision to give Gallen an extra day of rest. Jalen Beeks is opening and Nabil Crismatt is slated for bulk relief Thursday.
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Andrew Knizner C | SEA
Giants' Andrew Knizner: Triples in win
Knizner went 1-for-2 with two RBI, a triple and a walk in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cardinals.
Knizner appeared in just his fifth game this month, during which he's batting .333 with two RBI in 13 plate appearances. The backup catcher hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and added an RBI triple in the eighth to give the Giants the lead. With that, the 30-year-old recorded the first three-bagger of his seven-year big-league career. He's slashing .227/.298/.307 with 11 runs scored, five RBI and a homer in 85 plate appearances this season.
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Bryce Eldridge DH | SF
Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Multi-hit effort in win
Eldridge went 2-for-4 with a double in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cardinals.
Eldridge hit a two-bagger in the third inning and added a single in the seventh. With that, the 20-year-old delivered his first multi-hit performance in the big leagues. Over eight appearances with the Giants, he's slashing .125/.300/.208 with three RBI, two doubles and a run scored across 30 plate appearances. He has started five consecutive games and should continue to see a significant workload with three matchups remaining, as the Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Will pitch in bulk relief Sunday
Sale will be used as a bulk reliever in Sunday's game against the Pirates, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Atlanta will use Charlie Morton as an opener in his final career appearance before Sale takes over. It will be the first relief outing for Sale since he closed out the 2018 World Series as a member of the Red Sox. While it will be unconventional usage for the lefty, Sale will have a better chance to pick up a win as a bulk reliever, and he should be available for a typical starter's workload.
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Casey Schmitt DH | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Tallies three hits in win
Schmitt went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cardinals.
Schmitt doubled in the second inning before coming around to score San Francisco's first run. He also added two singles, marking his fifth multi-hit effort over 18 games this month. During that span, he's batting .246 with eight runs scored, six RBI, three doubles and two home runs in 71 plate appearances. Overall, the 26-year-old infielder is slashing .240/.310/.398 with 37 RBI, 33 runs scored and 11 long balls across 340 plate appearances in 92 outings this season.
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Charlie Morton SP | ATL
Braves' Charlie Morton: Will be used as opener Sunday
Morton will serve as Atlanta's opening pitcher in Sunday's game versus the Pirates, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Morton is slated to retire after the season, but first he'll be given a send-off in the final game of the regular season with the team that drafted him and where he spent five major-league seasons. Chris Sale will follow Morton in a bulk-relief role Sunday.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Out of lineup Thursday
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Diamondbacks.
With Will Smith (hand) out and Dalton Rushing (shin) returning just last week, Rortvedt has served as the Dodgers' primary catcher this month. However, he'll get a breather in Thursday's finale while Rushing dons the catcher's gear.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Exiting starting nine
Muncy is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Arizona.
Muncy has played sparingly versus lefties since returning from the injured list earlier this month, though it won't be a traditional lefty starter for the Diamondbacks on Thursday as reliever Jalen Beeks serves as an opener. The left-handed-swinging Muncy could be a candidate to enter mid-game when Arizona turns to righty bulk reliever Nabil Crismatt. Enrique Hernandez is starting at third base and batting eighth for the Dodgers.
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Tommy Edman 2B | LAD
Dodgers' Tommy Edman: Out of Thursday's lineup
Edman is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Arizona.
Edman had three hits and drove in the deciding run during Wednesday's extra-innings victory over the Diamondbacks, but he'll get a day off in Thursday's series finale. Miguel Rojas will be at second base and Andy Pages will play center field for the Dodgers.