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Nick Sogard 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Nick Sogard: Earning more work at 3B
Sogard will start at third base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Sogard will remain in the lineup for the fourth game in a row and will be making his third start at third base during that stretch. All three of Sogard's starts at the hot corner have come against right-handed pitching, and the 28-year-old may have at least temporarily overtaken the struggling Caleb Durbin as Boston's preferred option at the position. Sogard has three hits in 11 at-bats since being promoted from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, so he has more work to do before cementing himself as an everyday player for a more extended stretch of action.
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Hunter Feduccia C | LAD
Rays' Hunter Feduccia: Pops first homer
Feduccia 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Orioles.
The backstop took Shane Baz deep in the second inning for the Rays' only offense until they erupted for four runs in the eighth to steal a win. It was Feduccia's first long ball of the year, and he's slashing .278/.365/.370 through 54 plate appearances on the season. It appears he's taken hold of the primary catching job with five starts in Tampa Bay's past seven games.
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Ian Seymour RP | TB
Rays' Ian Seymour: Notches second save
Seymour worked a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Orioles. He didn't strike out a batter.
The southpaw has worked his way into a high-leverage role for the Rays, collecting two saves, two holds and a win over his last seven appearances while posting a 3.52 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB in 7.2 innings. Closer Bryan Baker was likely unavailable Wednesday after pitching in three of the prior four games, but Garrett Cleavinger hasn't been used since Sunday, suggesting that Seymour may be the next man up in closing situations for manager Kevin Cash.
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Mickey Gasper DH | BOS
Red Sox's Mickey Gasper: Sitting in second straight game
Gasper is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
After a recent stretch of seven starts in eight games, Gasper will hit the bench for the second day in a row. Since being called up from Triple-A Worcester on May 7, Gasper is slashing .355/.375/.419 over 32 plate appearances, and his hot bat could earn him more chances as the Red Sox's designated hitter if Masataka Yoshida (.696 OPS in May) continues his middling production at the plate.
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Joe Ross RP | TEX
Joe Ross: Released from MiLB deal
The Diamondbacks released Ross on Monday.
Ross was torched for eight runs in 3.2 innings during a stint with the Diamondbacks earlier this season but has spent most of his time at Triple-A Reno, where he held a 4.29 ERA and 12:5 K:BB over 21 frames. The veteran hurler will now be on the lookout for a new contract with an organization seeking swingman depth.
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Brandon Nimmo RF | TEX
Rangers' Brandon Nimmo: Leaves game with hamstring injury
Nimmo was removed from Wednesday's game in Colorado in the fifth inning with right hamstring tightness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Nimmo singled with two outs before being removed for a pinch runner following a brief discussion with manager Skip Schumaker and the Rangers' trainer. It's an aggravation of a hamstring issue that Nimmo has been dealing with off and on since late April. The Rangers could have more on his condition after the game.
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Jesse Scholtens RP | TB
Rays' Jesse Scholtens: Nabs win in long relief
Scholtens (5-2) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over four innings of relief in a 5-3 victory over the Orioles. He struck out four.
Steven Matz was activated from the IL earlier in the day to get the start, but he wound up working in tandem with Scholtens as each pitcher tossed four innings. The right-hander pocketed the decision when the Rays rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth. It's not clear if the duo will continue to piggyback, or if Tampa Bay will now shift to a six-man rotation. Scholtens has been effective however he's been deployed this season, and over eight appearances (two starts) he sports a 3.22 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 36.1 innings.
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Steven Matz RP | TB
Rays' Steven Matz: Works in tandem in return
Matz didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four innings in the Rays' 5-3 victory over the Orioles. He struck out five.
Making his first start since May 3 after recovering from a bout of elbow inflammation, Matz was lifted after 67 pitches (41 strikes) and wound up working in a tandem arrangement with Jesse Scholtens, who got the win while tossing four innings of relief. Matz wasn't expected to have any significant workload restrictions, so it's not clear if he'll continue to piggyback with Scholtens, or if Tampa Bay will shift to a six-man rotation. Regardless of his role or when his next outing will happen, Matz's 3.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB through 41.1 innings on the season will give him some fantasy appeal in deeper formats.
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Orioles' Pete Alonso: Slugs ninth homer
Alonso went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Rays.
The veteran first baseman took Jesse Scholtens deep in the sixth inning for a solo shot as the O's grabbed a 3-1 lead, but the bullpen couldn't make it stick. Alonso snapped a 10-game power drought in the process, with the homer being his ninth of the season to go along with a .228/.310/.434 slash line and 28 RBI in 50 contests.
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Ernie Clement 2B | TOR
Blue Jays' Ernie Clement: Ready to play Wednesday
Clement (illness) will start at second base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
While recovering from a bout with strep throat, Clement was limited to a pinch-hitting role in Tuesday's 5-4 loss, but he appears ready to play a full nine innings Wednesday. Since rapping out a season-high five hits May 9 against the Angels, Clement has fallen into a bit of a lull at the dish, going 6-for-27 (.222 average) over his ensuing nine games.