MLB Player News
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Jorge Polanco 1B | NYM
Mets' Jorge Polanco: Rehab assignment shut down
The Mets have shut down Polanco's (Achilles/wrist) rehab assignment, Keith Raad of SNY reports.
Polanco, who has been on the injured list since April 18, will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has struggled at the plate when healthy during his first season with the Mets, slashing .179/.246/.286 across 61 plate appearances.
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Mark Vientos 1B | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Competing for playing time
Vientos will have to continue competing for at-bats with Jared Young and MJ Melendez, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
The recent emergence of Young in particular has already started to cost Vientos playing time in the first few days of June. Vientos also hasn't helped his cause by mustering just a .125 average (4-for-32) over his last 10 games dating back to May 24. Manager Carlos Mendoza labels the situation a "healthy competition," and he did afford Vientos a start at designated hitter Saturday.
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Ildemaro Vargas 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Not in Saturday's lineup
Vargas (thigh) is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Nationals on Saturday.
Vargas is dealing with a left thigh contusion that forced him to leave Thursday's game against the Dodgers. He entered Friday's game against Washington after being absent from the starting lineup, so Vargas could be available off the bench for the Diamondbacks for Saturday's contest. LuJames Groover will start at first base and bat eighth.
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Christopher Morel 1B | MIA
Marlins' Christopher Morel: Not in Saturday's lineup
Morel is not in the Marlins' starting lineup against the Rays on Saturday.
Even though the Rays are sending southpaw Shane McClanahan to the mound, the right-handed-hitting Morel will be on the bench for the start of Saturday's game while Leo Jimenez serves as the Marlins' designated hitter and Javier Sanoja starts at third base. Morel has seen a noticeable decline in his playing time due to his struggles at the plate, with the 26-year-old slashing .172/.232/.219 with one steal, one RBI and a 39.1 percent strikeout rate across 69 plate appearances this season.
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Sal Stewart 1B | CIN
Reds' Sal Stewart: Gets Reds up early
Stewart went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 10-3 loss to St. Louis.
Stewart was in the middle of the Reds' three-run first inning, doubling home two runs and scoring the third. He's still contributing from the middle of the order but less so after his boffo start. After posting a .943 OPS with nine home runs and 29 RBI over 31 games through the end of April, Stewart has a .722 OPS with three homers and 10 RBI over the same number of contests since May 1.
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Ildemaro Vargas 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Enters game late
Vargas (thigh) entered Friday's game in the eighth inning to play second base. He did not get a plate appearance in a 14-1 loss to the Nationals.
Vargas was injured in a scary collision with Los Angeles' Max Muncy on Thursday but appears to have avoided a serious injury. That he was able to play the field for a couple of innings is an encouraging sign that Vargas can resume his role sharing first base and DH with occasional work at other infield spots.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Homers for lone run in win
Freeman went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 1-0 win over the Angels.
Freeman delivered a walk-off blast against Kirby Yates in the ninth inning in a game that was lacking in offense. Freeman has hit safely in nine of his last 11 contests, going 15-for-44 (.341) with four homers and 12 RBI in that span. On the year, the first baseman is batting .276 with an .838 OPS, 10 homers, 35 RBI, 32 runs scored, two stolen bases, 15 doubles and a triple over 61 games. His ratios have slipped a bit overall, but he's currently trending up.
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Luis Garcia 1B | WAS
Nationals' Luis Garcia: Clubs pair of homers
Garcia went 2-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI in Friday's 14-1 win over the Diamondbacks.
Garcia led the offense Friday, starting the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning. He added a grand slam in the sixth for his second multi-homer game of the year. Considering he has just seven long balls this season, Friday's effort was unexpected. The infielder is batting .263 with a .745 OPS, 37 RBI, 23 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples and two stolen bases over 58 contests. Garcia has done pretty well of late, going 12-for-40 (.300) with four homers and 15 RBI over his last 11 games.
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Jared Young 1B | NYM
Mets' Jared Young: Goes deep in win
Young went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-0 win over the Padres.
Young has three homers this season, and they've all come over his last six games. He also has a trio of multi-hit efforts in that span. The 30-year-old is batting .313 with a .945 OPS, six RBI, eight runs scored, three doubles and no stolen bases across 55 plate appearances. Young should continue to get steady playing time versus right-handed pitchers.
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Jake Bauers 1B | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Leads offense in comeback win
Bauers went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 9-7 extra-inning win over the Rockies.
Bauers came up clutch late, driving in a run on a single in the ninth inning before adding a two-run double in the 10th. The 30-year-old posted a .921 OPS in May, and he's opened June with three extra-base hits and six RBI through five contests. For the year, he's slashing .277/.361/.497 with 10 homers, 39 RBI, 35 runs scored and four steals across 216 plate appearances in what is shaping up to be a career year.