MLB Player News
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Out of Thursday's lineup
Freeman (finger) isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Thursday's game against Baltimore, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Freeman will miss his third start in a row as he continues to recover from a hairline fracture in his right middle finger that he sustained Aug. 17. His absence will allow Enrique Hernandez to pick up another start at first base and bat sixth Thursday.
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Jake Bauers RF | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Resting against righty
Bauers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
Bauers had started at either first base or designated hitter in each of the Brewers' previous three matchups with right-handers, but after sitting against Giants lefty Kyle Harrison on Wednesday, Bauers will remain on the bench for the series finale while righty Hayden Birdsong takes the hill for San Francisco. Rhys Hoskins will pick up the start at first base Thursday, and William Contreras will get a day off behind the plate and serve as the Brewers' DH.
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Connor Joe RF | SEA
Pirates' Connor Joe: Slugs ninth homer
Joe went 3-for-4 with a solo home run two RBI and two walks Wednesday against the Cubs.
He got the start in right field in place of Bryan De La Cruz, and Joe delivered his second home run in his last three appearances. Though his playing time has come primarily against lefties, Rowdy Tellez (undisclosed) exited Wednesday's game early, and Joe would be the likely replacement if Tellez is out for an extended period.
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Dominic Smith 1B | ATL
Reds' Dominic Smith: Makes fourth straight start
Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to Oakland.
Smith made his fourth consecutive start and fifth in six games since joining the Reds. All of those starts have come against right-handers, either at first base or designated hitter. A regular role is nice, but Smith is just 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts since signing with the team.
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Jake Cronenworth 1B | SD
Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Steals home in loss
Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Cronenworth stole home as Manny Machado swiped second, with the throw from St. Louis catcher Pedro Pages going into center field. Speed typically isn't a big part of Cronenworth's game -- he has four steals on six attempts this year, though two of them have come over his last nine games. The infielder is now at a .245/.321/.399 slash line with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, 64 runs scored, 24 doubles and three triples over 129 contests this season.
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Luis Arraez 2B | SF
Padres' Luis Arraez: Four hits in loss
Arraez went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Arraez once again set the table well. He has logged at least three hits in three of his last six games. The infielder is batting .320 (31-for-97) in August and is up to a .310/.341/.386 slash line with four home runs, 38 RBI, 69 runs scored, seven stolen bases and 25 doubles over 126 contests this season. He's been able to maintain his success despite a career-worst 3.2 percent walk rate, as he's striking out at a tiny 4.6 percent rate -- he hasn't logged a strikeout in his last 16 contests.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Another three-hit effort
Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Padres.
Goldschmidt has logged back-to-back three-hit efforts for the first time this year. Three of his five games with three or more hits have come in August, though he's still hitting a mediocre .247 (20-for-81) this month. The first baseman is up to a .235/.295/.396 slash line with 20 home runs, 53 RBI, 60 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 20 doubles over 126 contests.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: On bench again Wednesday
Freeman (finger) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Freeman sustained a hairline fracture in his right middle finger Aug. 17 and attempted to play through the injury for more than a week, but he's now sitting Wednesday for the second consecutive game. The 34-year-old struggled in six games while gutting it out, as he went 3-for-23 with seven strikeouts. Freeman could be back in the lineup after taking a few days to recover since it hasn't been reported that he's suffered a setback.
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Joey Gallo LF | CHW
Nationals' Joey Gallo: Back on bench Wednesday
Gallo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Gallo will return to the bench after he had started in three of the Nationals' previous four games while going 2-for-14 with one walk against six strikeouts. In the wake of prospect Dylan Crews' recent call-up from Triple-A Rochester, Gallo no longer appears to have a path to regular playing time in right field and will instead have to settle for part-time work at first base and designated hitter as part of a rotation with Juan Yepez and Andres Chaparro.