MLB Player News
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Remains out of lineup
Naylor (neck) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.
Naylor will miss a third straight start after exiting Friday's game versus the Marlins with neck stiffness. He is considered day-to-day. Pavin Smith will serve as the Diamondbacks' first baseman and Lourdes Gurriel will be the designated hitter in Monday's series opener.
-
Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Sitting vs. right-hander Monday
Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Ben Rice will get the nod at first base Monday while the Blue Jays send right-hander Max Scherzer to the hill. The Yankees aren't treating Goldschmidt as a pure platoon player, but his opportunities to play against right-handed pitching have been scaled back considerably following Giancarlo Stanton's return from the 60-day injured list June 16. Since that date, the Yankees have faced 11 right-handed starting pitchers, and Goldschmidt has been included in the lineup for six of those matchups. Both Goldschmidt (.273 wOBA) and Stanton (.299 wOBA) could be in danger of fading into part-time roles if the Yankees commit to open up steadier playing time for Rice (.379 wOBA) and Jasson Dominguez (.345 wOBA), both of whom have been far more effective against righties this season.
-
Jared Triolo 3B | PIT
Pirates' Jared Triolo: Back on bench Monday
Triolo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Triolo was included in the lineup in three of the Pirates' previous four games, but the bulk of his starts are still expected to come against left-handed pitching when Pittsburgh has all of its core infielders available. Most of the 27-year-old's value to the Pirates derives from his ability to play all four infield spots, as he's been an easy out at the plate with a .167/.260/.280 slash line over 152 plate appearances on the season.
-
Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Retreating to bench
Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.
Gonzalez had been included in the lineup in the four of the Red Sox's last five games, but three of those starts came against left-handed pitching. The 28-year-old looks to be stuck in the short side of a platoon at first base with Abraham Toro for the time being, though Gonzalez could get more looks at second base versus right-handed pitching if David Hamilton (.506 OPS in 116 plate appearances) continues to languish.
-
Otto Kemp 3B | PHI
Phillies' Otto Kemp: Odd man out in Harper's return
Kemp is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Since being called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 7, Kemp had started in all but one of the Phillies' ensuing 20 games, but he'll likely find himself on the bench against right-handed pitching more frequently after Philadelphia reinstated Bryce Harper (wrist) from the injured list Monday. The right-handed-hitting Kemp should continue to see regular playing time against left-handed pitching, likely occupying the short side of a platoon in left field with the left-handed-hitting Max Kepler.
-
Nick Sogard SS | BOS
Red Sox's Nick Sogard: Heading back to Triple-A
The Red Sox optioned Sogard to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
After being called up from Triple-A on Friday, Sogard picked up one start at third base and two at the keystone while going a collective 3-for-10 with two doubles, one walk, two runs and one RBI in the Red Sox's three-game series versus Toronto. Despite his ample usage over the weekend, Sogard will end up moving back to the minors while the Red Sox clear a spot on the 26-man roster for Marcelo Mayer (personal), who was reinstated from the bereavement list.
-
Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Returns from injured list
The Phillies activated Harper (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He will start at first base and bat third in the Phillies' series opener versus the Padres.
Harper will return to the Philadelphia lineup after missing the last three-plus weeks with right wrist inflammation. The 32-year-old did not go out on a rehab assignment, but the Phillies were convinced of Harper's readiness by how he looked against live pitching over the weekend.
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Clears Green Monster in win
Guerrero went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Red Sox.
The first baseman went back-to-back with Addison Barger in the first inning to stake the Blue Jays to a 2-0 lead, with Guerrero's blast soaring over the Green Monster and nearly leaving Fenway Park completely. It's the 12th long ball of the season for Guerrero and his fourth in the last 12 games, a stretch in which he's slashing .317/.440/.683 with 10 RBI and 11 runs.
-
Enrique Hernandez SS | LAD
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Slugs eighth homer
Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-1 win versus the Royals.
The veteran utility man started at first base and gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead when he took Kansas City starter Kris Bubic deep in the second inning. The long ball marked the first in June for Hernandez, who entered this contest with an anemic .119/.196/.167 slash line across 46 plate appearances in 23 games this month. Through 177 total plate appearances, the 33-year-old is slashing .206/.273/.388 with 23 runs scored and 22 RBI in a short-side platoon role.