MLB Player News
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Jose Abreu 1B | HOU
Astros' Jose Abreu: Not starting Sunday
Abreu is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Yankees.
Abreu battled soreness in his right knee throughout spring training. He was sidelined for more than a week due to the issue and was able to ramp back up a bit before Opening Day. In his first 12 plate appearances of the season, the 37-year-old has not recorded a hit, though he has gotten aboard twice. Jon Singleton will start for him at first base Sunday while batting sixth.
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Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Not starting against lefty
O'Hearn is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Angels.
Left-hander Reid Detmers is starting for the Angels on Sunday, so Ryan Mountcastle will be at first base, and Adley Rutschman will serve as the designated hitter. Though he was out of the starting lineup Opening Day against a lefty, the first baseman was able to find an at-bat.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Collects three hits in loss
Freeman went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI versus the Cardinals in an extra-inning loss Saturday.
Freeman put the Dodgers on the board with a run-scoring single in the fifth inning, and he helped force the game into an extra frame by singling and scoring the tying run in the ninth. The All-Star first baseman is showing no signs of slowing down in his 15th big-league campaign, slashing .333/.500/.500 with a home run, four RBI and a 5:6 BB:K through 24 plate appearances. Freeman is in a great spot to produce batting behind Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani in a loaded Dodgers lineup.
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Jared Walsh 1B | CHW
Rangers' Jared Walsh: Homer, three hits in win
Walsh started at first base and went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 11-2 win over the Cubs.
Walsh's two-run blast in the second inning wiped out Chicago's 2-0 lead, as the Rangers thumped their way to an easy win. The left-handed hitting Walsh got the start against a right-hander after Ezequiel Duran played first base in Thursday's opener against a lefty. Those two are handling the position until Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) is ready to play.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Drives in three runs
Mountcastle went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and a run during Saturday's 13-4 win against the Angels.
Mountcastle delivered an RBI double in each of the first and third frames, walked and scored in the sixth and capped Baltimore's scoring with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. The 27-year-old has typically been a slow starter in April and March with a career .624 OPS, but he's on his way to bucking that trend in 2024 after going 3-for-6 with four RBI and two walks in the first two games of the season.
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Alex Kirilloff LF | MIN
Twins' Alex Kirilloff: Gets start in outfield
Kirilloff started in left field and went 1-for-4 with an RBI during Saturday's win over Kansas City.
It was a surprise to see Kirilloff in the outfield after he played almost exclusively at first base and DH in spring training. He also hit second in the order, which was unexpected as well. Both show he's healthy and should be in a prime lineup spot against right-handed pitchers. Kirilloff is still expected to be the team's primary DH versus right-handed pitching.
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Mets' Pete Alonso: Mashes first homer of year
Alonso went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Brewers.
The first baseman took Abner Uribe deep in the ninth inning for his first homer of 2024, but the Mets couldn't find a tying run afterward. Alonso has belted at least 40 homers in each of the last two seasons, but last year's .217 batting average and .318 OBP muted the fantasy utility of his power. He'll look to deliver something closer to the .267/.348/.518 slash line he generated in 2021-22, especially with free agency looming after the season.
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Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE
Brewers' Rhys Hoskins: Clubs first homer with Milwaukee
Hoskins went 3-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Mets.
The 31-year-old first baseman took Luis Severino deep in the third inning for his first homer of the season and as a Brewer. Hoskins missed all of 2023 due to an ACL tear, but he slugged 57 homers in 263 games over the prior two years for the Phillies while slashing .246/.333/.489, and he's expected to return to that level of performance now that he's healthy.
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Nick Loftin 1B | KC
Royals' Nick Loftin: Set to play DH on Saturday
Loftin will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Saturday's game against the Twins.
Loftin will make his first appearance of the season and start at DH for Nelson Velazquez. Loftin appeared in 19 games for the Royals last season and slashed .323/.368/.435 with 10 RBI over 68 plate appearances.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Guardians' Josh Naylor: Sitting against lefty
Naylor is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.
David Fry will get the start at first base and hit in the cleanup spot against Athletics left-hander JP Sears. Over his first two games this season, Naylor has gone 3-for-8 with two doubles, two runs and one walk.