MLB Player News
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Kris Bryant DH | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: Targeting post-break return
Bryant (oblique/rib) said Monday that he likely won't be activated from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, MLB.com reports.
Bryant took full batting practice in Cincinnati on Monday for the first time since landing on the shelf in early June with a left rib contusion and oblique strain. While Bryant suggested that he responded well to taking BP, he'll still need to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment before eventually making his return from the IL. The upcoming All-Star break will limit Bryant's opportunities to stockpile at-bats in game settings, but the 32-year-old still seems to be trending toward being activated before the end of July.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | STL
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Goes deep Monday
Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 6-0 win over the Nationals.
Goldschmidt has logged a trio of multi-hit efforts over his first seven contests in July, going 9-for-34 (.265) in that span. The first baseman is still struggling overall with a .229/.293/.369 slash line for the year, adding 12 homers, 34 RBI, 45 runs scored and six stolen bases across 87 games. He has five homers and 12 RBI over 28 contests since the start of June.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Swipes bag in Sunday's loss
Freeman went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to the Brewers.
Freeman walked in the third and stole second base but was left there stranded with the bases loaded. It was just his fourth swipe of the year and his first since June 5. The 34-year-old has started off July well at the dish, tallying eight hits, six RBI and a 5:5 BB:K over his first six games of the month. It's a continuation of what he's been doing all season long, as he's slashing .301/.406/.506 with 13 homers, 58 RBI, 55 runs and a 54:61 BB:K in 399 plate appearances.
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Michael Busch 1B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Smacks two-run homer
Busch went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Angels.
Busch has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with four extra-base hits across his last seven games. His homer provided the Cubs' last runs in the seventh inning of Sunday's win, though he also generated a run despite grounding into a double play in the fifth. The corner infielder is at a .264/.359/.457 slash line with 11 homers, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored and one stolen base across 301 plate appearances this season. Busch isn't strictly limited to a strong-side platoon role, but he'll still sit against some southpaws.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Snaps out of power slump
Olson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Phillies.
Olson took rookie Michael Mercado deep in the second inning to break out of a 14-game homerless drought. It was Olson's second streak of 14 or more games without a homer this season after having only one such streak last season. The 30-year-old entered the game in a 10-for-65 slump with just two extra-base hits and three RBI in his last 18 games, so he'll perhaps now find some positive momentum heading into the All-Star break.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Could be activated Tuesday
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Harper (hamstring) is "in play" to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
While Thomson confirmed that Kyle Schwarber (groin) will be back with the big club Tuesday, the skipper was less certain that Harper will be ready to go for the start of the three-game series with the NL West leaders. On a positive note, Harper ran on the field for a second straight day Sunday, with Zolecki relaying that the first baseman appeared to be moving at close to 100 percent intensity. Harper has been on the IL since June 28 with a left hamstring strain, with his absence opening up regular playing time at first base for Kody Clemens against right-handed pitching.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | PIT
Pirates' Rowdy Tellez: Getting day off against lefty
Tellez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
With lefty Sean Manaea on the hill for the Mets, the lefty-hitting Tellez will hit the bench for the second day in a row. Connor Joe once again checks in for Tellez at first base.
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Christian Walker 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Delivers two more runs
Walker went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Padres.
Walker provided the game-winning knock with a two-run single in the top of the 10th inning. The scorching hot Walker is 15-for-30 with five home runs over the last seven contests and has knocked in 13 runners over the last six. The surge leaves him with 22 home runs (tied for sixth in MLB) and 64 RBI (seventh in the league).
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Connor Joe 1B | PIT
Pirates' Connor Joe: Stuck in lengthy slump
Joe went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Saturday against the Mets.
Joe has been limited exclusively to a short-side platoon role at first base since Rowdy Tellez has gotten improved results at the plate, though Joe has also split time with Edward Olivares and Joshua Palacios in right field. Joe will likely continue to lose plate appearances so long as he remains cold at the dish, as he's hit only .176 with one home run, five RBI and seven runs scored since June 1 and across 74 at-bats.