MLB Player News
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Matt Mervis 1B | MIA
Diamondbacks' Matt Mervis: Lands with Arizona
Mervis signed a minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Mervis was released by the Marlins last Tuesday after slashing .250/.309/.625 through 149 plate appearances with their Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville. The 27-year-old will now aim to get back to the majors with the Diamondbacks organization, but he may first need to find more success at Triple-A Reno before garnering consideration for a promotion.
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Niko Kavadas 1B | LAA
Angels' Niko Kavadas: Back with Halos
The Angels recalled Kavadas from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
With Gustavo Campero (ankle) headed to the injured list, Kavadas will come up from the minors to replenish the Angels' bench depth. The 26-year-old is 0-for-1 in the majors this season but owns an .826 OPS through 479 plate appearances in Triple-A.
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Jake Bauers RF | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Set for rehab assignment
Bauers (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Bauers was placed on the 10-day injured list July 20 due to a left shoulder impingement, but he's finally ready for game action after he recently resumed full baseball activities. The 29-year-old has slashed .197/.318/.354 with five home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs scored, five stolen bases and a 23:45 BB:K across 151 plate appearances this season. Bauers will likely be in line for a limited role off the bench for Milwaukee once he's activated from the IL.
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Abraham Toro 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Abraham Toro: Homers against former club
Toro went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 7-6 loss to Houston.
Toro initiated a two-out, four-run rally in the seventh inning when he belted a homer against the team that drafted him in 2017 and for whom he played 93 games from 2019-21. He was a pleasant surprise for the Red Sox earlier this season, but Toro has languished since the All-Star break, slashing .194/.257/.323 with two home runs and five RBI over 20 contests. Toro continues to share first base with Romy Gonzalez.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Sends game into extras
Tellez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 7-6 extra-inning win over Arizona.
Shortly before Jake Burger's walk-off single in the 10th inning, Tellez extended the game by slugging a leadoff, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth. He's managed to maintain a regular presence in the lineup against right-handers since being promoted from Triple-A Round Rock in mid-July, but Tellez could see his opportunities dwindle in the coming days. The recent activation of Jake Burger from the injured list provides more competition for Tellez between the first base and designated hitter spots, and once outfielder Evan Carter (back) is ready to come off the IL, the domino effect will result in Josh Smith moving back to the infield.
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Tyler Locklear 3B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Tyler Locklear: Homers in loss
Locklear went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Rangers.
Locklear gave the Diamondbacks an early lead with his second home run since being traded to Arizona. He's operated as the primary first baseman after Josh Naylor was traded and Pavin Smith (oblique) landed on the 10-day injured list. Smith begins a rehab assignment Tuesday and could return for a homestand beginning next Monday. A lefty-righty platoon between Smith and Locklear is a possibility, but the organization may opt to give the younger Locklear the at-bats as Arizona plays out the string. Locklear has a .653 OPS with a 34.9 strikeout percentage over 43 plate appearances.
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Jake Burger 3B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Emerges as hero Monday
Burger went 1-for-1 with a walk-off RBI single in Monday's 7-6 win over the Diamondbacks.
Burger didn't appear during the first nine innings but was called on to pinch-hit for Joc Pederson against lefty Andrew Saalfrank in the 10th inning, delivering a walk-off hit. Recently activated from the injured list Aug. 8, Burger will look to earn playing time in what has been a challenging season.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Hits go-ahead home run
Torkelson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.
Torkelson delivered the key blast in the game as he smashed a home run off the left field foul pole in the top of the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The homer came against Chicago lefty Brandon Eisert, and Torkelson now has a stellar .942 OPS against southpaws this season. The slugging first baseman is up to 26 long balls, putting him within one of Riley Greene for the team lead. Torkelson has gone deep three times across his last five games.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | TEX
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Maintaining strong side of platoon
Tellez will start at first base and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Jake Burger's return from the injured list over the weekend doesn't appear to have resulted in Tellez losing hold of a strong-side platoon role at first base. Though the left-handed-hitting Tellez has now started in each of the Rangers' last seven matchups with right-handed pitchers, he'll be the most likely player to lose out on at-bats when Evan Carter (back) returns from the injured list. Once he's activated, Carter should take over as the Rangers' primary center fielder, which will likely result in Wyatt Langford shifting to left field and Josh Smith moving back to first base.
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Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Off to slow start in August
Across nine games this month, Busch is slashing just .133/.161/.267 with a 32 percent strikeout rate.
Outside of a nice game Saturday where Busch went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, the first baseman has gone just 2-for-25 with nine strikeouts in August. Busch's overall slash line is a much healthier .263/.348/.500, and the 27-year-old should receive ample opportunities to turn things around as Chicago's primary leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching. He has a robust .921 OPS against righties this season.