MLB Player News
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Elehuris Montero 1B | COL
Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Showing improvement
Montero went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk Saturday against the Giants.
Montero has taken over as Colorado's primary first baseman following the demotion of Michael Toglia, and he's started seven of eight games since Sept. 1. In that span, he's collected eight hits across 24 at-bats and more importantly, has dropped his strikeout rate to 20.7 percent. Hunter Goodman could be a threat to Montero's playing time, but to this point, the Rockies have used Goodman primarily as an outfielder.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Stays hot Saturday
Olson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Pirates.
Olson has five homers and five multi-hit efforts during his six-game hitting streak. Unfortunately, all of those homers have been of the solo variety. The first baseman is up to 48 long balls, 118 RBI and 112 runs scored this year, all career highs, and he's added a stolen base, 25 doubles, three triples and a .275/.381/.603 slash line through 141 contests.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Sets franchise record Friday
Freeman went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Nationals.
His fifth-inning two-bagger off Mason Thompson set a new Dodgers record, as it gave Freeman his 53rd double of the year -- breaking a mark that had stood since 1929 when the team played in Brooklyn and was known as the Robins. Freeman continues to push for a second MVP trophy, and since the beginning of August he's slashing .360/.430/.576 with 18 doubles, four homers, four steals, 18 RBI and 25 runs in 36 games.
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Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Logs steal in loss
Steer started at second base and went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 9-4 loss to St. Louis.
Steer, who never stole more than eight bases in a season while in the minors, stole his 13th bag for the Reds. His stint as the primary fill-in at second base could be ending soon, as Jonathan India (foot) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Friday. India is expected to return Tuesday, which means manager David Bell can take advantage of Steer's versatility, moving him between third base, first base and left field.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Steady gig ending soon
Encarnacion-Strand started at first base and went 2-for-5 in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Encarnacion-Strand has been the primary fill-in at first base while Joey Votto (shoulder) has been sidelined. That steady gig will end this weekend, as Votto is expected to return Sunday after a two-game rehab stint at Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati manager David Bell will need to find opportunities for Encarnacion-Strand at designated hitter, third base or first base going forward. And there's motivation to find him spots in the lineup. Encarnacion-Strand is 14-for-35 (.400) with five extra-base hits and six RBI over the last nine games.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Reds' Joey Votto: Starts rehab assignment
Votto (shoulder) went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
Votto began a short rehab assignment with the Bats, which is expected to last one more day before he's activated Sunday.
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Hunter Goodman RF | COL
Rockies' Hunter Goodman: Remains productive
Goodman went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored Friday against the Giants.
Goodman lined a pitch to center field in the second inning to tally his second career triple. He also has at least one hit in eight of his first 10 games in the majors, including five extra-base hits across 31 at-bats. Given that success, it's little surprise that the Rockies have found Goodman regular playing time, split evenly between first base and the outfield.
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Wilmer Flores 1B | SF
Giants' Wilmer Flores: Strong showing in win
Flores went 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three RBI in Friday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.
Flores hasn't hit safely in consecutive contests in September, but he's gone 7-for-26 (.269) with three homers this month. The infielder got the Giants on the comeback trail with a two-run blast in the sixth inning and forced in the go-ahead run on a walk in the eighth. Flores' career year has him up to 22 long balls, 54 RBI, 49 runs scored and a .290/.356/.540 slash line through 108 games.
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LaMonte Wade 1B | CHW
Giants' LaMonte Wade: Takes seat versus lefty
Wade is not in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.
Wilmer Flores will play first base and bat third with left-hander Ty Blach getting the start for Colorado. Wade has slashed just .250/.319/.344 in 75 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.