MLB Player News
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Ryan Noda 1B | OAK
Athletics' Ryan Noda: Sitting against southpaw
Noda is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Houston.
The left-handed-hitting Noda started at first base in both of the first two games of the series with righties on the mound for the Astros, but he'll take a seat as southpaw Framber Valdez goes to the hill in the finale. Tyler Nevin will play first base and bat seventh for Oakland.
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Jonathan Aranda 1B | TB
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Swats second homer
Aranda went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Phillies.
The 26-year-old took Zack Wheeler deep in the sixth inning, briefly tying the game at 2-2 and giving Aranda his second homer of the season in 85 plate appearances. Aranda may be moving into a regular role for the Rays -- he's started five of the last six games, four at first base and one at second base, and gone 5-for-18 (.278) over that stretch with three doubles, a homer and a 3:4 BB:K. Tampa Bay has fallen seven games off the pace in the battle for the final wild-card spot in the AL with 16 games left to play, so the team is likely to continue giving a long look to unproven players like Aranda to evaluate their place in the franchise's future plans.
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Nolan Schanuel 1B | LAA
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Fills box score in win
Schanuel went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI, a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Twins.
Schanuel had gone 15 games without a multi-hit effort, batting just .157 (8-for-51) with one extra-base hit in that span. The first baseman had also gone over a month since his last homer (Aug. 8). He's now at a .247/.342/.364 slash line with 13 homers, 49 RBI, 59 runs scored and six steals through 135 contests this season.
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Jake Bauers 1B | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Not starting Wednesday
Bauers isn't in Milwaukee's lineup for Wednesday's game versus San Francisco.
Bauers broke an 0-for-9 stretch at the plate with a single during Tuesday's contest, and he'll now grab a seat on the bench Wednesday. His absence will allow Gary Sanchez to serve as the Brewers' designated hitter while batting cleanup.
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Tyler Soderstrom 1B | OAK
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Plays seven innings on defense
Soderstrom (wrist) played the first seven innings of Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Albuquerque on Tuesday at first base and went 3-for-4 with an RBI single, a triple, a walk and two runs.
Soderstrom's stint in the field was the longest yet of his rehab assignment, and he continued to show plenty of proficiency with the bat as well. The rookie's time on the farm is essentially going about as well as could be expected, and he could therefore be in line for activation by the end of the week.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: On bench Wednesday
Diaz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Diaz received a day off Sunday, so his absence from the lineup three days later and after just two starts is somewhat surprising. The Rays haven't indicated that Diaz is dealing with any sort of injury, but fantasy managers may nonetheless want to keep a close eye on his status heading into the four-game series with the Guardians that begins Thursday. Jonathan Aranda will pick up a start at first base Wednesday in Diaz's stead.
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Joey Gallo 1B | WAS
Nationals' Joey Gallo: Sitting against southpaw
Gallo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Though he'll take a seat against southpaw Max Fried in the series finale, the lefty-hitting Gallo looks to have recaptured a strong-side platoon role. Gallo has started in each of the Nationals' six matchups with right-handed pitchers in September, though he's mustered just one hit and three walks in 16 at-bats on the month.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Back in action Wednesday
Torkelson (illness) will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
One of the victims of a bug that has been making its way around the Detroit clubhouse, Torkelson sat out Tuesday's 11-0 win after feeling under the weather following the Tigers' recent road trip. The day off looks to be all Torkelson needed to move past the ailment, as he'll draw back into the starting nine Wednesday. Since getting called up from Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 17, Torkelson has produced a .757 OPS with four home runs, 10 RBI and 14 runs in 22 games.
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Pavin Smith RF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sitting against southpaw
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Though he's settled into the large side of a platoon in left field following Lourdes Gurriel's (calf) move to the injured list, the lefty-hitting Smith will take a seat Wednesday against Rangers southpaw Cody Bradford. Platoon mate Randal Grichuk will step in for Smith.
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Dominic Smith 1B | CIN
Dominic Smith: Chooses to become free agent
Smith elected free agency Thursday.
After the Reds outrighted Smith off their 40-man roster last week, the veteran first baseman declined an assignment to Triple-A Louisville and instead elected to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Over 307 plate appearances in the big leagues this season between Cincinnati and Boston, Smith slashed .233/.313/.378 with six home runs, 34 RBI and 33 runs.