MLB Player News
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Connor Joe RF | SEA
Pirates' Connor Joe: Slugs ninth homer
Joe went 3-for-4 with a solo home run two RBI and two walks Wednesday against the Cubs.
He got the start in right field in place of Bryan De La Cruz, and Joe delivered his second home run in his last three appearances. Though his playing time has come primarily against lefties, Rowdy Tellez (undisclosed) exited Wednesday's game early, and Joe would be the likely replacement if Tellez is out for an extended period.
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Seth Brown LF | ATH
Athletics' Seth Brown: Goes yard twice in win
Brown went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Reds.
He took former teammate Sam Moll deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning before clubbing a game-winning, three-run homer off Emilio Pagan in the eighth. Brown snapped a 16-game power drought with the performance, but in 34 contests since returning to the majors just before the All-Star break, he's slashing an impressive .300/.369/.540 with seven home runs, 13 runs and 19 RBI. Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) is making progress in his recovery but isn't expected to be back in the lineup until at least mid-September, giving Brown more time to rack up production as Oakland's primary option at first base before he gets some competition for at-bats against right-handed pitching.
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Dominic Smith 1B | SF
Reds' Dominic Smith: Makes fourth straight start
Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to Oakland.
Smith made his fourth consecutive start and fifth in six games since joining the Reds. All of those starts have come against right-handers, either at first base or designated hitter. A regular role is nice, but Smith is just 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts since signing with the team.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Guardians' Josh Naylor: Three hits, two RBI in win
Naylor went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Royals.
Naylor plated a run in the first inning on a fielder's choice before adding an RBI single in the seventh as part of a four-run frame. This was his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 12 -- over 14 games in between, he hit a paltry .100 with two home runs and five RBI. The first baseman is at a .237/.319/.460 slash line with 28 homers, 94 RBI, 72 runs scored, 20 doubles and five stolen bases over 126 contests this season.
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Jake Cronenworth 1B | SD
Padres' Jake Cronenworth: Steals home in loss
Cronenworth went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Cronenworth stole home as Manny Machado swiped second, with the throw from St. Louis catcher Pedro Pages going into center field. Speed typically isn't a big part of Cronenworth's game -- he has four steals on six attempts this year, though two of them have come over his last nine games. The infielder is now at a .245/.321/.399 slash line with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, 64 runs scored, 24 doubles and three triples over 129 contests this season.
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Luis Arraez 2B | SF
Padres' Luis Arraez: Four hits in loss
Arraez went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Arraez once again set the table well. He has logged at least three hits in three of his last six games. The infielder is batting .320 (31-for-97) in August and is up to a .310/.341/.386 slash line with four home runs, 38 RBI, 69 runs scored, seven stolen bases and 25 doubles over 126 contests this season. He's been able to maintain his success despite a career-worst 3.2 percent walk rate, as he's striking out at a tiny 4.6 percent rate -- he hasn't logged a strikeout in his last 16 contests.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Another three-hit effort
Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Padres.
Goldschmidt has logged back-to-back three-hit efforts for the first time this year. Three of his five games with three or more hits have come in August, though he's still hitting a mediocre .247 (20-for-81) this month. The first baseman is up to a .235/.295/.396 slash line with 20 home runs, 53 RBI, 60 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 20 doubles over 126 contests.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Hits key home run
Torkelson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Angels.
After going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Tuesday, Torkelson turned the page quickly and helped lead Detroit to the narrow victory. In 11 games since getting recalled from Triple-A Toledo, the 25-year-old is batting .333 with three home runs and eight RBI. Torkelson seems to be settling in after a sluggish start to his third MLB campaign, which ultimately got him sent down in early June.
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Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Homers, racks up four hits
Pasquantino went 4-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to Cleveland.
Pasquantino set a new season high with four hits Wednesday, his ninth multi-hit game of August. The 26-year-old has excelled this month, batting .271 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 17 runs scored in 114 plate appearances. Pasquantino's stellar August has propelled him to fourth in MLB with 97 RBI as he continues his impressive breakout season. Overall, the first-baseman is slashing .264/.317/.449 with 19 home runs, 97 RBI and 64 runs scored in 130 games.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: On bench again Wednesday
Freeman (finger) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
Freeman sustained a hairline fracture in his right middle finger Aug. 17 and attempted to play through the injury for more than a week, but he's now sitting Wednesday for the second consecutive game. The 34-year-old struggled in six games while gutting it out, as he went 3-for-23 with seven strikeouts. Freeman could be back in the lineup after taking a few days to recover since it hasn't been reported that he's suffered a setback.