MLB Player News
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Casey Schmitt SS | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Knocks homer, four hits in win
Schmitt went 4-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two additional runs scored in Sunday's 9-5 victory over the Red Sox.
The 26-year-old infielder drew his 13th start at third base and fueled the Giants offense with his first career MLB game of three runs scored. This performance also marks Schmitt's second career four-hit contest, with the first coming at Arizona on May 11, 2023. The San Diego State product has filled in admirably while Matt Chapman (hand) has been sidelined. Through 104 total plate appearances, Schmitt is slashing .286/.369/.462 with four homers, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Sparks offense in win
Horwitz went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Rangers.
Horwitz was a thorn in the Rangers' side all game, highlighted by a two-run double during the Pirates' five-run fifth inning. Over his past 10 games, the 27-year-old has hit safely eight times, collecting four doubles, three RBI and seven runs scored. He's slashing .245/.316/.349 with one home run, nine RBI and 14 runs scored across 117 plate appearances while primarily starting against right-handed pitching.
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Dominic Smith 1B | SF
Giants' Dominic Smith: Sitting against RHP
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
The left-handed-hitting Smith will take a seat against a right-handed pitcher (Lucas Giolito) for the second time in the series. Smith has produced an .801 OPS in 16 games since joining the Giants earlier this month, but he could nonetheless have to settle for a part-time role at first base against right-handed pitching with the acquisition of Rafael Devers having displaced Wilmer Flores from the designated-hitter spot.
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Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Guardians' Carlos Santana: Exiting starting nine Sunday
Santana is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Kyle Manzardo will cover first base and David Fry will serve as the Guardians' designated hitter while Santana receives his first day off since June 7. Since clubbing a grand slam in the Guardians' 11-2 win over the Reds on June 11, Santana has gone 4-for-31 with no extra-base hits over his last eight games, though he contributed two stolen bases during that stretch.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Playing time trending down
Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Encarnacion-Strand got off to a hot start at the plate upon returning from the injured list June 6, but he's gone just 3-for-25 with seven strikeouts over his last seven contests. Now on the bench for the fourth time in the Reds' last five games, Encarnacion-Strand could be in danger of a demotion to Triple-A Louisville during the upcoming week. The Reds announced Sunday that Jeimer Candelario (back) has returned from his rehab assignment, and Encarnacion-Strand would be a logical candidate to get optioned to clear a spot for the veteran.
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Ryan Noda 1B | BAL
White Sox's Ryan Noda: Handling steady role
Noda will start at designated hitter and will bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
After joining the White Sox last weekend shortly after being claimed off waivers from the Red Sox, Noda has handled a regular role for Chicago. He's started seven of the last eight games, but he's gone just 2-for-17 with a solo home run. Expect Noda's playing time to eventually trend downward if he's unable to get anything going at the dish.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Sitting again Sunday
Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, though manager Aaron Boone said the first baseman will "probably" play in all three games of the upcoming series versus Cincinnati, which begins Monday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Sunday marks the second straight absence for Goldschmidt, and it's also the second time in the last week he's sat consecutive games, though he started the four contests in between. Boone also said that the 37-year-old will "play regularly and all the time, but there'll be those occasions where [he's off] two in a row." Ben Rice will receive another start at first base Sunday and should remain a semi-regular presence in the lineup when the Yankees face right-handed pitching.
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Belts three-run bomb
Busch went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's win over the Mariners.
Busch deposited a ball into the Wrigley Field bleachers during the third inning. The first baseman is in the midst of a breakout season, slashing .272/.367/.509 with 28 extra-base hits and 44 RBI through 71 games.
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Donovan Solano 1B | TEX
Mariners' Donovan Solano: Three-hit performance in loss
Solano went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Cubs.
Solano notched his second consecutive three-hit game Saturday, continuing a scorching run in June. The veteran had struggled mightily before the month, slashing just .173/.212/.200 with two extra-base hits and two RBI over 34 games. Since the start of June, however, he's turned things around dramatically, posting a .440/.481/.600 slash line with two extra-base hits and six RBI in nine games. Though he's been deployed largely as a short-side platoon player at first base this season, Solano started against a right-hander (Cade Horton) on Saturday, and his recent success could allow him to stay in the lineup more frequently versus same-handed pitchers.
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Alec Burleson LF | STL
Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Continues hitting streak
Burleson went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's victory over the Reds.
Burleson got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run homer in the first inning, then added an RBI single in the eighth. The 26-year-old extended his hitting streak to nine games, during which he's slashed .410/.415/.718 with six extra-base hits and 10 RBI. On the season, he boasts a .314/.352/.473 line with 19 extra-base hits and 30 RBI across 66 games.