MLB Player News
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Three more hits Thursday
Guerrero went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Tigers.
The Blue Jays' $500 million man led the way in an 11-run, 15-hit barrage. It was Guerrero's third straight multi-hit performance, and over the last 15 contests he's slashing .375/.478/.500 with eight RBI and 12 runs. Despite that impressive stretch, he's still looking for his power stroke -- with 13 homers through 101 games, Guerrero's on pace to fall short of 25 over a full season for the first time.
-
Willson Contreras C | BOS
Cardinals' Willson Contreras: Launches another homer
Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a home run and four RBI in Thursday's 9-7 win against San Diego.
The first baseman put St. Louis on the board with an RBI double in the opening frame and followed up with a three-run homer in the second inning. Contreras has a modest four-game hit streak with an extra-base hit in each of those contests, going 9-for-21 with four doubles and two home runs. The strong performance coming out of the All-Star break has boosted his season slash line to .262/.345/.452 through 98 games.
-
Tristin English 3B | ATL
Diamondbacks' Tristin English: Recalled following Naylor trade
The Diamondbacks recalled English from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, Aaron Hughes of SI.com reports.
With Josh Naylor shipped to Seattle in a trade Thursday, Arizona is bringing English back up to fill the void at first base. Pavin Smith (oblique) is still on the 10-day injured list, so English should get plenty of opportunities while Smith is idle. English made his MLB debut earlier in July, going 0-for-4 with one RBI and a pair of strikeouts in one game before being sent back down. He's slashed .341/.390/.566 with 11 home runs, 65 RBI and 44 runs scored at Triple-A this year.
-
Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Pops 22nd home run
Torkelson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays.
Torkelson was having a forgettable game until the bottom of the ninth inning, when he launched his 22nd home run of the season. It's his first long ball in seven games following the All-Star break, but the 25-year-old has been known to go on power surges throughout his career and could be primed for a hot stretch soon. Torkelson's career high of 31 home runs, which he recorded two years ago, could be within reach if he heats up down the stretch.
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Mariners' Josh Naylor: Shipped to Seattle
The Diamondbacks traded Naylor to the Mariners on Thursday in exchange for Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Diamondbacks are expected to unload a number of assets before the trade deadline, and they'll officially kick things off by sending Naylor up to Seattle. Eugenio Suarez has been the primary target for many teams looking to add a bat for a postseason run, but Naylor has fared well in his own right, slashing .292/.360/.447 with 11 homers, 59 RBI, 49 runs scored and 11 stolen bases over 93 games in Arizona. Now with the Mariners, the 28-year-old slugger will presumably start every day at first base, taking playing time away from Luke Raley and Donovan Solano.
-
Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Plays hero Wednesday
Freeman went 2-for-5 with a run, a stolen base and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 win against Minnesota.
Freeman capped a ninth-inning comeback with a two-out, two-run, walk-off single that just evaded the reach of a diving Harrison Bader. The knock was Freeman's second hit of the game, marking just his second multi-hit appearance over his past 15 contests. The All-Star first baseman is batting an uncharacteristically poor .204 during that stretch, though he's still at a .295 batting average on the campaign, the third-best figure among qualified National League hitters.
-
Spencer Horwitz 1B | PIT
Pirates' Spencer Horwitz: Slugs grand slam
Horwitz went 1-for-4 with a grand slam Wednesday against the Tigers.
Horwitz has struggled for most of July, but he is turning things around since the All-Star break. He has hits in each of his last four games, including a pair of doubles and a home run. Horwitz also looks to be the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter, at least against right-handed pitching, after briefly ceding the role to Tommy Pham.
-
Ryan O'Hearn 1B | PIT
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Taking seat Thursday
O'Hearn is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.
Coby Mayo gets the start at first base in place of the left-handed-hitting O'Hearn, who will head to the bench for the series finale while the Guardians send lefty Logan Allen to the hill. Fresh off his first All-Star Game appearance, O'Hearn has gone 4-for-19 with a home run, a walk, three RBI and two runs through his first six games of the second half.
-
Carlos Santana 1B | ARI
Guardians' Carlos Santana: Resting up Thursday
Santana is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.
Santana will get a standard veteran rest day while the Guardians and Orioles close out their four-game series with a matinee contest. With Santana on the bench, Kyle Manzardo will cover first base, while Jose Ramirez gets a day out of the infield and serves as the Guardians' designated hitter.
-
Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Wallops first career grand slam
Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 9-8 extra-innings win over Philadelphia.
It was the first career grand slam for Gonzalez, with those four RBI representing a season high. Despite Wednesday's eruption, the 28-year-old infielder should remain on the weak side of a platoon with the switch-hitting Abraham Toro at first base going forward. Gonzalez owns a 1.078 OPS over 82 at-bats versus left-handers as opposed to a .658 OPS across 76 at-bats against righties this year.