MLB Player News
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Cubs' Alex Bregman: Racks up four hits in win
Bregman went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, three total runs and two total RBI in a 7-3 win against the Cardinals on Monday.
Bregman helped Chicago get off to a fast start with a run-scoring double in the first inning. He added a solo homer to right field in the third and ended the contest with four hits, his most in a game since he went 5-for-5 versus the Rays in April of last year. Bregman entered Monday in a 1-for-16, four-game stretch at the plate, so the huge performance was a welcome sight for his fantasy managers. Even after Monday's big effort, the veteran third baseman is on pace for a career-worst .705 OPS.
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Hunter Dobbins SP | STL
Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Tosses 5.1 frames in piggyback role
Dobbins allowed four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Monday.
As expected, Dobbins piggybacked starter Matthew Liberatore, who lasted only 3.2 innings while giving up three runs. Dobbins was the slightly more efficient and effective hurler, and he gave St. Louis more depth with 85 pitches to Liberatore's 67, though neither pitcher was particularly impressive. It remains to be seen how Dobbins will be deployed moving forward -- he could continue to piggyback Liberatore, but there's also a possibility he moves into the rotation if Liberatore continues to struggle or if another starter is traded before the deadline.
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Matthew Liberatore SP | STL
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Lasts just 3.2 frames Monday
Liberatore (5-8) took the loss against the Cubs on Monday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 3.2 innings.
Liberatore never seemed to settle in, giving up a run in each of the first, second and third frames. He was pulled with two outs in the fourth and replaced by Hunter Dobbins, who finished off the final 5.1 innings for St. Louis. Dobbins was only slightly more effective in yielding four runs, though his season ERA of 3.74 is vastly superior to Liberatore's 5.26 mark. It remains to be seen if the two will continue to work in a piggyback situation, but Liberatore is at least tentatively lined up to make his next start in Toronto this weekend.
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David Peterson SP | CHC
Cubs' David Peterson: Solid again Monday
Peterson (6-7) earned the win over St. Louis on Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 5.2 innings.
Peterson was far from dominant, but he finished one out shy of a quality start and picked up his second straight win. The lefty gave up just one extra-base hit -- a Jose Fermin solo homer -- and got nine of his 17 outs on grounders. Peterson was mauled by the Cardinals for 10 runs over 3.2 innings the last time he faced them July 3, so his outing Monday was a promising indication that he's figured some things out. While he still carries a poor 5.80 ERA on the campaign, Peterson has allowed just three earned runs over 17.1 frames across his past three starts to build some security around his rotation spot, at least in the short term. He's lined up to make his next start at home against the Yankees.
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Casey Schmitt LF | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Nursing knee discomfort
Schmitt left Monday's game against the Brewers due to left knee discomfort and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Schmitt appeared to tweak his knee on a hard turn around first base during Monday's series opener and was forced to come out of the game. Manager Tony Vitello stated after the matchup that he expects Schmitt to miss some time, indicating that a trip to the injured list is likely. The club should have a formal diagnosis following Tuesday's scans, at which point a timetable for the 27-year-old's return could become more clear.
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Ozzie Albies 2B | ATL
Braves' Ozzie Albies: Knocks in team's three runs Monday
Albies went 2-for-4 with a home run and three total RBI in a loss to the Mets on Monday.
Albies gave Atlanta an early lead with an RBI single in the first inning. He then tied the score at 3-3 with a two-run homer in the fourth, but New York went on to score the final 11 runs of the contest. Albies has flexed his power of late, launching four long balls over his past eight games. He's having a resurgent season with 18 home runs, 60 RBI and a .754 OPS through 106 contests after finishing with a career-worst .671 OPS across 157 regular-season games last year.
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A.J. Ewing CF | NYM
Mets' A.J. Ewing: Serves as spark atop lineup
Ewing went 3-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base in a 14-3 victory versus Atlanta on Monday.
Ewing led off New York's half of the first inning with a single and came around to score on a Francisco Lindor triple. The rookie outfielder added two more singles and hit a sacrifice fly before the game was over as the Mets rolled in an eventual rout. Ewing has taken over as New York's primary leadoff hitter, batting leadoff in 17 of his past 18 games, and is faring well with a .271/.342/.417 slash line on the season. He's been doing a bit of everything, logging seven homers, 12 steals, 31 runs and 26 RBI through 66 contests.
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Esmerlyn Valdez RF | PIT
Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Set for imaging Tuesday
Valdez is expected to undergo additional imaging on his left hand Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Valdez went 0-for-1 before leaving Monday's 3-2 win over Arizona after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, and the Pirates didn't provide many details on the extent of his injury following his departure. He was presumably sent in for X-rays immediately after exiting, though the club evidently wants to send him for additional scans Tuesday. Valdez can be considered day-to-day until more information comes to light.
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Tyrone Taylor LF | CHC
Mets' Tyrone Taylor: Belts another three-run blast
Taylor went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and two additional runs scored against Atlanta in a 14-3 victory Monday.
One day after slugging a big three-run homer against the Dodgers, Taylor launched another three-run shot Monday as part of a late Mets offensive onslaught. The veteran outfielder has come alive in July -- through 17 contests this month, he's batting .378 (14-for-37) with six long balls, four doubles, 12 RBI and 11 runs. Taylor is still trying to earn consistent playing time, though he's started two straight games after being left out of the starting lineup for six consecutive contests.
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Marcus Semien 2B | NYM
Mets' Marcus Semien: Goes deep for second straight game
Semien went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk and scored two additional runs in Monday's 14-3 win against Atlanta.
Semien's blast was a 424-foot, two-run shot in the sixth inning that broke a 3-3 tie. It was his second homer in as many games and his third over his past five contests. Semien also logged his first multi-hit performance over his past 13 games, snapping what had been an ugly 4-for-43 stretch at the plate. He's batting just .214 on the campaign, but with 12 homers through 88 contests, Semien is only three shy of the 15 long balls he swatted across 127 regular-season contests last year.