MLB Player News
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Michael Toglia 1B | COL
Rockies' Michael Toglia: Slugs 22nd homer
Toglia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored and a stolen base Thursday against Atlanta.
Toglia has slumped considerably across his last 10 games, hitting just .171 while striking out at a 34.1 percent clip. However, he managed his 22nd home run of the season Thursday, six of which have come since the All-Star break. Toglia has also chipped in seven stolen bases across 370 plate appearances this season after recording only two across the first 272 plate appearances of his career.
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Christian Walker 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Christian Walker: Starts Thursday
Walker started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.
Walker returned to the starting lineup after a day off Wednesday. He was activated off the injured list Tuesday, and the Diamondbacks are easing him back to action after he missed five weeks with an oblique strain. Walker will eventually resume his role as the team's everyday first baseman. Josh Bell, who started in place of Walker on Wednesday, moved to designated hitter Thursday.
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Andres Chaparro 3B | WAS
Nationals' Andres Chaparro: Belts third homer
Chaparro went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI on Thursday against the Pirates.
Chaparro's two-run blast in the first was his third of the season and provided the Nationals with an early three-run cushion. He later was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth to drive in his third run, though by that point the game was out of reach for the Nats. The rookie DH has a .233 average with eight doubles and 10 RBI since his call-up Aug. 13, while all three of his homers have come over the last eight games.
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Ty France 1B | CIN
Reds' Ty France: Smacks homer, stays hot
France went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 1-0 win over the Astros.
France took Bryan Abreu deep in the seventh inning to plate the only run needed for the Reds to complete the sweep of the Astros. France hit his 12th home run of the year, matching last season's total in 37 fewer games. The 30-year-old went 9-for-11 in this Astros series, becoming the third player this season with multiple hits and an RBI in three straight games against Houston.
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Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA
Angels' Niko Kavadas: Sitting versus southpaw
Kavadas is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.
It's lefty Cody Bradford on the bump for the Rangers, so the lefty-hitting Kavadas will begin the series opener on the bench. Brandon Drury will occupy the designated hitter slot.
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Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: In Thursday's lineup
Harper (elbow) will start at first base and bat third Thursday against the Marlins.
Harper had to make an early exit from Wednesday's contest after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, but his bruise won't be enough to prevent him from playing in Thursday's series opener. Over his last 10 games, the 31-year-old slugger has gone 13-for-34 with two RBI and four runs scored.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Begins baseball activities
Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) has been cleared to begin baseball activities, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Encarnacion-Strand underwent surgery in mid-July to repair ligaments in his fractured right wrist. He has already been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, but the 24-year-old will hope to have a normal offseason after getting the go-ahead to ramp things up this month.
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Zach Dezenzo SS | HOU
Astros' Zach Dezenzo: Knocks in two
Dezenzo went 1-for-4 with two RBI on Wednesday against the Reds.
Dezenzo drew only his second start against a right-handed pitcher in the team's last seven games. Despite coming through with a two-RBI single in the sixth inning, he's struggled through his first 55 plate appearances in the majors, striking out at a 32.7 percent clip while hitting only .212.
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Austin Shenton 3B | SEA
Rays' Austin Shenton: Back in big leagues
The Rays recalled Shenton from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Shenton has a .697 OPS in 44 plate appearances during his time in the big leagues this season and has posted an .858 OPS with 20 homers this year at Durham. The lefty-hitting first baseman/designated hitter could see the occasional start against right-handed pitching.