MLB Player News
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LaMonte Wade 1B | CHW
Giants' LaMonte Wade: Not in lineup
Wade will sit Saturday against the Dodgers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The Giants may be eliminated from the playoffs, but that hasn't altered their preference for platoons, as they'll send several lefties to the bench Saturday against southpaw Clayton Kershaw. Wilmer Flores will get the start at first base.
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Dominic Smith 1B | ATL
Nationals' Dominic Smith: Connects on 12th homer
Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 10-6 win over Atlanta.
Smith's 12th long ball of the season gave the Nationals a 7-6 lead in the sixth inning before the team tacked on three more runs in the seventh. Despite having avoided a trip to the injured list and having been locked into a near-everyday role throughout the season, Smith's overall production has been modest at best. He'll take a .253 average to go with 56 runs, 46 RBI and one stolen base into the Nationals' final two games of the season.
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Elehuris Montero 1B | COL
Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Strong September continues
Montero went 1-for-5 with a solo home run Friday against the Twins.
Montero made his lone hit of the day count, and he now has three home runs in his last four games. His strong hitting has extended further, as he's gone deep five times across 25 games in September. Importantly, he's also shown improved plate discipline by maintaining a 26.7 percent strikeout rate and 6.9 percent walk rate in that same span.
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Jeimer Candelario 3B | LAA
Cubs' Jeimer Candelario: Goes deep Friday
Candelario went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Brewers.
Candelario was reinstated from the injured list Wednesday after missing a few weeks with a back strain, and Friday's home run was his first hit since returning. He's been solid this year with an .807 OPS, 22 home runs and 38 doubles, and the Cubs will need the infielder to produce over their final two games if they want to sneak into the playoff field.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Joins homer party
Steer went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in Friday's 19-2 win over St. Louis.
Steer launched a solo home run in the second inning -- he was one of six members of the starting lineup to go deep in a win that kept the Reds' playoff hopes alive. He's hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games, going 16-for-49 (.327) with nine extra-base hits, eight RBI and seven runs scored. The home run was Steer's 23rd over 155 games.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Provides offense in loss
Flores went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a walk in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Flores was the only Giant to get a hit in the game, knocking an RBI single in the first inning and a solo home run in the third, both off Lance Lynn. Prior to Friday, Flores had gone just 2-for-18 over his last six games. The infielder has been one of the Giants' few steady hitters with a .284/.355/.510 slash line, 23 homers, 59 RBI, 51 runs scored and 22 doubles over 125 games this season.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Smacks 29th homer
Freeman went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and three total runs scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Giants.
Freeman has powered up late in the season with three homers over his last four games. He's hitting .310 in September with four homers and eight doubles across 26 games, giving him 29 long balls and 59 two-baggers for the season. The first baseman has added an impressive .334/.412/.572 slash line with 102 RBI, 131 runs scored, 23 stolen bases and two triples through 159 contests overall.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Knocks 13th homer
Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 19-2 win over the Cardinals.
Encarnacion-Strand launched his homer as part of the Reds' seven-run fourth inning. It was one of the team's six home runs in the contest. The rookie slugger has gone deep 13 times, including seven times over his last 10 games. Encarnacion-Strand is now slashing .274/.328/.488 with 37 RBI and 20 extra-base hits through 232 plate appearances.