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Max Kepler LF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Max Kepler: Idle Sunday
Kepler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Kepler will be held out of the lineup for the second time in the series while Arizona goes with Lourdes Gurriel in left field and Ketel Marte in the designated-hitter spot. Since serving an 80-game suspension and being cleared to make his Arizona debut June 25, Kepler has produced a .554 OPS across 38 plate appearances. Until he begins to improve his offensive output, Kepler could have to settle for a part-time role.
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Luis Campusano C | SD
Padres' Luis Campusano: Scratched Sunday
Campusano was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays due to abdominal soreness, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The 28-year-old was penciled in to start behind the plate Sunday but was instead replaced by Rodolfo Duran due to the injury. Campusano will now have five full days to recover before the Padres start the second half of the season Friday in Kansas City.
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Tommy Troy LF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tommy Troy: Sitting for series finale
Troy (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Ryan Waldschmidt will receive the start in center field while Arizona gives Troy some extended time to recover from the shoulder contusion he suffered during Saturday's 9-2 win. Manager Torey Lovullo said after the game that Troy wouldn't require imaging on his shoulder, so the rookie outfielder is expected to be good to go coming out of the All-Star break.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Not starting Sunday
Kirk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Kirk will get a day off for the final game of the first half after starting the previous three contests and going 4-for-12 with a walk, two doubles and two RBI in that span. Brandon Valenzuela will step in behind the plate to catch right-hander Kevin Gausman on Sunday.
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Drew Gilbert CF | SF
Giants' Drew Gilbert: Settling back into everyday role
Gilbert will start in center field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Gilbert didn't start in either of the Giants' ensuing two games after he went 4-for-4 in a loss to the Rockies on July 5, but he's gone on to crack the lineup in each of the five contests after that. His increased playing time has coincided with Victor Bericoto landing on the injured list with an oblique injury, which has opened up an extra spot in the outfield. Gilbert will likely fade into a reserve role once any of Bericoto, Harrison Bader (foot) or Matt Chapman (abdomen) returns from the IL.
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Edouard Julien 2B | COL
Rockies' Edouard Julien: Sitting against righty
Julien is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
The Rockies have regularly shielded the left-handed-hitting Julien from southpaws this season, but he'll take a seat against a righty starter (Trevor McDonald) in the final game before the All-Star break. Tyler Freeman will get the nod at second base in place of Julien, who is slashing .228/.335/.321 (75 wRC+) over 224 plate appearances versus righties on the campaign.
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Brice Matthews CF | HOU
Astros' Brice Matthews: Exits with apparent injury
Matthews was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the second inning Sunday following a collision with the center-field wall while pursuing a flyball in the bottom of the first, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
With two outs in the inning, Matthews was unable to corral a Josh Jung deep fly, which ultimately fell in for a triple after Matthews' back and head collided with the outfield wall. Matthews was able to make the relay throw into the infield and remained in the game while Houston recorded the final out of the frame, but he was pulled from the contest before his first turn in the batting order came up. Taylor Trammell pinch hit for Matthews and will presumably cover center field for the remainder of the contest. The Astros should provide further word on the nature of Matthews' injury later Sunday.
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George Springer DH | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: On bench Sunday
Springer is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Springer started the past three games after missing six contests while on the paternity and family medical emergency list, but he'll take a seat Sunday for the final matchup before the All-Star break. Barring an appearance off the bench, the veteran slugger will finish the first half with a disappointing .218/.303/.374 slash line, nine home runs and six steals in 66 games.
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Alejandro Osuna LF | TEX
Rangers' Alejandro Osuna: Slips into reserve role
Osuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Osuna will remain on the bench for a third straight game. After filling the strong side of a platoon in the outfield for the better part of the last month, Osuna looks like he'll be stuck in a reserve role after Wyatt Langford returned from the injured list Thursday.
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Elias Diaz C | TEX
Rangers' Elias Diaz: Left out of starting nine
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Diaz will head to the bench for the third time in four games while the Rangers go with Kyle Higashioka behind the dish. Though he appeared to have supplanted Higashioka as the Rangers' preferred catcher while Danny Jansen (forearm) remains on the shelf, Diaz may have faded into a timeshare after going 3-for-19 (.158) with a 0:4 BB:K over his last six starts.