MLB Player News
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Posts big line against former team
Busch went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, three total runs and three total RBI in a 10-4 win against the Dodgers on Monday.
Busch bullied the club that drafted him in the first round in 2019, recording his second four-hit game of the season and tying his campaign high with three RBI. He took Walker Buehler deep in the fourth inning and also had an RBI single in each of the first and sixth frames. Busch's long ball snapped a 24-game stretch without a homer, and he batted just .179 over 84 at-bats during that span.
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Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA
Angels' Niko Kavadas: Drills third homer
Kavadas went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double against Minnesota in Monday's 6-2 victory.
Kavadas capped the scoring in the contest by crushing a two-run shot to right field in the sixth inning. He also had a double in the fourth frame, and he finished with the first multi-hit performance of his career. Kavadas is batting just .137 through 57 big-league plate appearances, though four of his seven hits have gone for extra bases.
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Vladimir Guerrero 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Avoids serious injury
Guerrero was sent for X-rays during Monday's game against the Mets after fouling a ball off his toes on his left foot, but he remained in the game after the results returned negative, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Guerrero walked off the field gingerly and was spotted heading down the tunnel to the clubhouse following his third at-bat of the game, but he appears to have avoided a significant injury. The team will likely re-evaluate the slugger Tuesday morning to determine whether he'll be ready to go for the second game of the series. Spencer Horwitz would be the obvious choice for a start at first base if Guerrero is forced to sit.
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Connor Joe RF | PIT
Pirates' Connor Joe: Back in bench role
Joe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
After a stretch of five consecutive starts, Joe has now hit the bench in consecutive games for the Pirates. Joe will likely be in store for a short-side platoon role the rest of the way, barring Pittsburgh losing additional everyday players to injury.
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Carlos Santana 1B | MIN
Twins' Carlos Santana: Back in lineup Monday
Santana (illness) is starting at first base and batting in the leadoff spot in Monday's series opener against the Angels.
Santana appears to be over the illness that forced him to exit Saturday's game against the Royals and sit for Sunday's series finale. Since the beginning of August, Santana has slashed .196/.304/.393 with six home runs and 12 RBI over 125 plate appearances.
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Jonathan Aranda 1B | TB
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Retreating to bench
Aranda is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The lefty-hitting Aranda had started in each of the Rays' last three games -- all against right-handed pitching -- going 2-for-11 with a double, a walk and two runs. He'll be on the bench Monday against a lefty (Cristopher Sanchez), but Aranda's opportunities to play against right-handed pitching could take a hit as soon as Brandon Lowe (finger) is able to return to the lineup. Lowe is on the bench Monday for a fourth straight game and remains day-to-day.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Uncertain timeline for return
Manager Brandon Hyde relayed Monday that he wasn't sure when Mountcastle (wrist) would return from the 10-day injured list, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mountcastle sprained his left wrist Aug. 22 against Houston while sliding into second base. He was placed on the 10-day injured list four days later, but it wasn't until Friday that he started swinging a bat by hitting off a tee. The Orioles are in a tight race in the AL East with the Yankees, but they have a comfortable lead in the AL Wild Card, so there could be caution in bringing Mountcastle back into the fold to avoid aggravating his wrist injury. From the end of the All-Star break to his placement on the IL, Mountcastle had a slash line of .259/.296/.370 with one home run and 18 RBI across 115 plate appearances.
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Kody Clemens 1B | PHI
Phillies' Kody Clemens: Getting regular run at third base
Clemens will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Rays.
Clemens will pick up a sixth consecutive start at the hot corner after going 5-for-21 with a home run, two doubles, one walk and five RBI over the previous five contests. While Alec Bohm (hand) and Edmundo Sosa (back) are on the injured list, Clemens looks like he'll have a clear path to a regular role at third base.
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Luis Arraez 2B | SD
Padres' Luis Arraez: Posts another three-hit game
Arraez went 3-for-5 with a run in Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Arraez collected three singles for the second straight contest and concluded the three-game set against San Francisco having gone 7-for-14 with an RBI and three runs. He's batted an NL-best .328 since the All-Star break and has struck out just twice over 180 at-bats during that span. Arraez's .315 average on the campaign is fourth-best among qualified major-league hitters and puts him firmly on pace to bat over .300 for the third straight season.