Tigers' James Outman: Looks set to lose playing time
Rotowire
Outman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Though he'll exit the lineup Wednesday while southpaw Trevor Rogers starts for the Orioles, Outman looks to be headed for a steep reduction in playing time versus righties, too. He headed to the bench Tuesday while righty Dean Kremer was on the bump for Baltimore, as Javier Baez picked up the start in center field in his return from the 60-day injured list. Baez figures to be prioritized in center field over Outman, who has a lowly .167/.211/.322 slash line over 34 games with Detroit, and top prospect Max Clark could enter the picture before the end of the year as well.
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Tigers' James Outman: Riding pine Saturday
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Outman isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Outman will move to the bench for a second straight game after starting five of Detroit's first seven games after the All-Star break. Riley Greene, Matt Vierling and Zach McKinstry will patrol the outfield while Outman rests.
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Tigers' James Outman: Delivers go-ahead home run
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Outman went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Royals.
Outman supplied most of Detroit's offense Thursday when he took John Schreiber deep in the seventh inning, giving him four home runs on the season. While the blast proved decisive, it has otherwise been a difficult month for the outfielder, who owns a .128 batting average (6-for-47) and 42.6 percent strikeout rate across 16 games in July. Overall, Outman has struggled to a .159/.218/.297 slash line this season.
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Tigers' James Outman: Held out of lineup vs. lefty
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Outman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.
The Tigers will send Outman and fellow left-handed hitters Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith to the bench while southpaw Jeffrey Springs takes the hill for the Athletics. Matt Vierling will cover center field in place of Outman, who went 5-for-35 (.143 average) with two home runs, six RBI, five runs and a 3:14 K:BB while starting in each of the Tigers' last 11 games.
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Tigers' James Outman: Taking seat versus lefty
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Outman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Though Matt Vierling will get the call in center field for the second straight game while the Tigers go up against another lefty (Ryan Weathers), Outman may have moved into the strong side of a platoon at the position. Outman started over Vierling in the Tigers' last two matchups with righties and has gone 3-for-16 with a home run, a stolen base and a 2:10 BB:K overall since joining Detroit earlier this month as a waiver pickup from Minnesota.
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Twins' James Outman: DFA'd by Twins
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The Twins designated Outman for assignment Saturday, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
Outman's playing time has been reduced significantly since late May, and he'll now officially lose his place on the active and 40-man rosters to make room for Royce Lewis, who was recalled from Triple-A on Saturday. The 29-year-old Outman has slashed just .156/.229/.250 across 70 plate appearances in the majors this season.
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Twins' James Outman: Playing time drying up
Rotowire
Outman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Outman made seven consecutive starts in the outfield from May 14 through May 20 while Byron Buxton dealt with a sore hip flexor, but his playing time has fallen by the wayside since. Buxton has been limited primarily to designated hitter over the last two weeks, but the Twins have been leaning on Kody Clemens and Ryan Kreidler in center field. Outman will remain on the bench Sunday for the eighth time in 10 games.
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Twins' James Outman: Filling in for banged-up Buxton
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Outman will start in center field and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Astros.
Outman will make his fifth consecutive start Monday, but he'll likely be headed to a bench role if Byron Buxton (hip) avoids a stint on the injured list and returns to the lineup within the next couple days. Though he's been on the roster all season, Outman has logged just 48 plate appearances, slashing .178/.229/.289 with zero home runs and four stolen bases.
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Twins' Matt Wallner: On bench for series finale
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Wallner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Wallner will take a seat for the second straight day, this time against a right-handed starter (Brady Singer) after he had been out of the lineup for Saturday's 5-4 loss while southpaw Andrew Abbott opened the game for the Reds. James Outman will fill in as the Twins' starting right fielder in place of Wallner, who still appears to be locked into a full-time role despite slashing a meager .181/.272/.333 with three home runs and six RBI over 81 plate appearances to begin the season.
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Twins' James Outman: Set to stick around for Opening Day
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Outman appears to be set to make the the Twins' Opening Day roster, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Outman entered the spring in competition with Alan Roden for the final spot in the Minnesota outfield, and after Roden was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Outman appears to have made the cut. Over 17 Grapefruit League games, Outman batted .220 with two home runs, six RBI, seven runs scored and a team-high seven stolen bases over 50 plate appearances. Roden produced a more impressive .302 average in 15 games, but the 26-year-old still had a minor-league option while Outman did not, and that was likely a driving force in Minnesota's decision to stick with the latter for now. The left-handed-hitting Outman could end up occupying the strong side of a platoon in left field with the right-handed-hitting Austin Martin.
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Twins' James Outman: Out of Thursday's lineup
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Outman is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.
The left-handed-hitting Outman had started three of the past four games against righties, but he'll take a seat Thursday as the Rangers send righty Tyler Mahle to the bump. Carson McCusker will be in right field and bat seventh for the Twins.
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Twins' James Outman: Idle for series finale
Rotowire
Outman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
Outman had started the previous three games, going 0-for-8 with six strikeouts and one walk during that stretch. Though two of those starts came against left-handed pitching, Outman will take a seat Sunday while the Guardians send southpaw Joey Cantillo to the bump.
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Twins' James Outman: Goes yard again
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Outman went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.
Batting ninth and getting the start in center field while Byron Buxton handled DH duties, Outman took Jose Urena deep in the third inning to get the Twins on the board. The 28-year-old outfielder has homered in back-to-back starts for his first long balls with his new club, but his contact issues have followed him from the Dodgers -- over his last 12 games he's batting just .206 (7-for-34) with a 3:14 BB:K.
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Twins' James Outman: Not in Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Outman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
Outman has gone 1-for-16 with a double and two walks in his first six games of September and will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale in Kansas City. Austin Martin is starting in left field and batting second against Royals righty Michael Lorenzen.
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Twins' James Outman: Taking seat for series finale
Rotowire
Outman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Outman was included in the starting nine for the first two contests of the series and went 1-for-7 with a walk, but the left-handed batter will hit the bench for Wednesday's finale while southpaw Eric Lauer toes the rubber for Toronto. Austin Martin will spell Outman in left field.
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Twins' James Outman: Will stay at Triple-A
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Outman will stay at Triple-A St. Paul after he was acquired from the Dodgers, as the Twins want him to return to everyday playing time and work on a possible swing adjustment, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Outman has dominated pitchers in Triple-A this season with a .970 OPS through 333 plate appearances, but he had just four hits in 39 at-bats with the Dodgers. Outman still could get called up and get a trial with Minnesota, but he's not in the team's immediate plans despite ample playing-time opportunities after the team traded away 10 players in the last week.
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Twins' James Outman: Shipped to Minnesota
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The Dodgers traded Outman to the Twins on Thursday in exchange for Brock Stewart, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Outman has dominated pitchers in Triple-A this season to the tune of a .970 OPS through 333 plate appearances, but he's logged just four hits in 39 at-bats with the Dodgers. Between his poor MLB performance and a loaded roster, the 28-year-old outfielder was struggling to find at-bats in Los Angeles. He still isn't likely to start regularly upon joining the Twins, but he could pick up some at-bats in the short term while Byron Buxton (ribs) is on the injured list.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Dodgers recalled Outman from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.
The Dodgers have some banged up outfielders, so Outman will provide depth in that area in the final week before the All-Star break. Outman has gone 3-for-24 with two home runs during his brief time in the majors this season.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Headed back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Dodgers optioned Outman to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.
Outman was promoted to the majors May 6 and went 3-for-24 with two home runs and four RBI over nine games. He'll head back to Triple-A after Teoscar Hernandez (adductor strain) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Pops homer in blowout win
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Outman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and three total runs scored in Thursday's 19-2 win over the Athletics.
Outman stretched the Dodgers' lead to 16-2 in the sixth inning. This was his first multi-hit effort of the season, and two of his three hits so far have been homers. He's added four RBI, five runs scored and no stolen bases across 24 plate appearances. Outman has recently been sharing center field with Hyeseong Kim against right-handed pitchers, while Chris Taylor frequently plays there versus southpaws.
