MLB Player News
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Sits with India, Votto back
Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 23-year-old has been a fixture at first base for the Reds over the past few weeks, but his playing time is poised to dip with Joey Votto (shoulder) and Jonathan India (foot) returning from the injured list Sunday. Encarnacion-Strand has a .721 OPS with six home runs in 187 plate appearances this season and should still see semi-regular action down the stretch, but his run as an everyday starter is likely at an end for the near future.
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Ryan Mountcastle 1B | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Takes seat Sunday
Mountcastle is out of the lineup Sunday against the Red Sox.
Ryan O'Hearn will play first base and bat cleanup versus the Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello. Mountcastle went 0-for-11 with four strikeouts across the first two games of the Orioles' three-game weekend series in Boston.
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Joey Votto 1B | TOR
Reds' Joey Votto: Activated, starting Sunday
Votto (shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and is starting at first base Sunday versus the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirerreports.
Votto made two appearances on his minor-league rehab assignment and will rejoin Cincinnati's lineup after going 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI with Triple-A Louisville. The veteran first baseman should see plenty of playing time down the stretch, though he could receive regular off days in Cincinnati's crowded and talented infield.
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Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt: Receives Sunday off
Goldschmidt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Cincinnati.
It's likely just a maintenance day for Goldschmidt, who started the Cardinals' previous 42 games and had a .765 OPS during that span. Alec Burleson will take over at first base for Sunday's series finale versus the Reds.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: On bench Sunday
Vaughn is absent from the lineup Sunday versus the Tigers.
Gavin Sheets will start at first base and bat seventh as Eloy Jimenez fills the DH role and hits cleanup. Vaughn went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Chicago's loss to Detroit on Saturday.
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Elehuris Montero 1B | COL
Rockies' Elehuris Montero: Showing improvement
Montero went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk Saturday against the Giants.
Montero has taken over as Colorado's primary first baseman following the demotion of Michael Toglia, and he's started seven of eight games since Sept. 1. In that span, he's collected eight hits across 24 at-bats and more importantly, has dropped his strikeout rate to 20.7 percent. Hunter Goodman could be a threat to Montero's playing time, but to this point, the Rockies have used Goodman primarily as an outfielder.
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Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Guardians' Josh Naylor: Slugs 16th homer in loss
Naylor went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Angels.
Naylor's homer Saturday was his first extra-base hit in six contests since he returned from an oblique injury. He's still been productive with six RBI in that span while reclaiming a place in the heart of the Guardians' order. For the season, the first baseman is slashing .304/.347/.496 with 16 homers, 85 RBI, 42 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 102 games.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Stays hot Saturday
Olson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Pirates.
Olson has five homers and five multi-hit efforts during his six-game hitting streak. Unfortunately, all of those homers have been of the solo variety. The first baseman is up to 48 long balls, 118 RBI and 112 runs scored this year, all career highs, and he's added a stolen base, 25 doubles, three triples and a .275/.381/.603 slash line through 141 contests.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Launches walk-off homer
Diaz went 2-for-2 with an RBI double and walk-off, two-run homer in Saturday's 7-5 win over Seattle.
Diaz came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and delivered a go-ahead, RBI double before blasting a walk-off, two-run homer in the ninth. In 31 games since the beginning of August, the 32-year-old first baseman is hitting .320 with five home runs, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored across 128 at-bats.