MLB Player News
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Gavin Williams SP | CLE
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Yields five runs in loss Tuesday
Williams (5-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Royals, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across six innings.
After he was tagged for six runs over six innings against the Blue Jays on April 24, Williams pitched a season-high 7.2 innings of one-run ball against Tampa Bay last week. Williams' ERA has ballooned from 2.12 to 3.28 with the two bad outings sandwiched around his dominant start against the Rays. Williams served up a pair of homers to lefties Isaac Collins and Michael Massey at the bottom of the Royals' lineup Tuesday. Through 49.1 innings, Williams has an MLB-best 60 strikeouts, though walks (21 issued) remain a problem for the right-hander. He's in line to face the Twins at home Sunday.
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Jesus Sanchez RF | TOR
Blue Jays' Jesus Sanchez: Taking seat against southpaw
Sanchez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
With southpaw Shane McClanahan on the bump for the Rays in the series finale, the Blue Jays will counter with a more right-handed-heavy lineup. Sanchez and fellow left-handed batters Andres Gimenez and Daulton Varsho will head to the bench, opening up spots for righties Lenyn Sosa, Myles Straw and Davis Schneider.
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Andres Gimenez SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez: Idle against left-hander
Gimenez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
With southpaw Shane McClanahan on the bump for the Rays in the series finale, the Blue Jays will counter with a more right-handed-heavy lineup. Gimenez and fellow left-handed batters Jesus Sanchez and Daulton Varsho will head to the bench, opening up spots for righties Lenyn Sosa, Myles Straw and Davis Schneider.
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Brandon Valenzuela C | TOR
Blue Jays' Brandon Valenzuela: Resting up Wednesday
Valenzuela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
After catching eight innings of Tuesday night's 4-3 loss, Valenzuela will be rested for the series finale in Tampa. Tyler Heineman will handle catching duties for the Blue Jays.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Two-hit night in win Tuesday
Witt went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Guardians.
Witt smacked a first-pitch double in the first inning, giving him 10 two-baggers for the season, sixth most in the American League. The power hasn't been there for Witt to start the season, but he's currently on a five-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 16 straight contests. Witt is slashing .287/.358/.434 with three homers, 16 RBI, 15 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and a 17:30 BB:K across 162 plate appearances.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: Slugs eighth homer
Hicks went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles.
Getting the start at first base before shifting behind the plate late in the game after rookie catcher Joe Mack was lifted for a pinch runner, Hicks continued his breakout campaign. His seventh-inning solo shot off Anthony Nunez was his eighth long ball of the season in just 33 contests, while the four hits tied his career high. Hicks will likely see most of his playing time at first base or DH while the Marlins take a long look at Mack, but his bat should be in the lineup nearly every day given his .321/.372/.575 slash line and 32 RBI, one back of MLB leader Matt Olson.
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Richard Palacios 2B | TB
Rays' Richie Palacios: Taking seat Wednesday
Palacios is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
With southpaw Patrick Corbin starting for the Blue Jays, the left-handed-hitting Palacios will hit the bench for the third time in four games. Ben Williamson will draw the start at second base Wednesday as he and Palacios continue to work in a loose platoon at the position amid the ongoing absence of Gavin Lux (shoulder/ankle), who has been stuck on the injured list all season.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Homers in win Tuesday
Massey went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Guardians.
Massey concluded an eight-pitch at-bat with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, depositing a Gavin Williams curveball into the right-field seats to give Kansas City a 4-3 lead. The two-hit night snapped a 1-for-20 skid at the plate for Massey, who is slashing .215/.243/.385 with two home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored, one stolen base and a 3:18 BB:K across 70 plate appearances. He's seeing regular playing time at second base with Jonathan India (shoulder) done for the season.