MLB Player News
-
Paul Goldschmidt 1B | NYY
Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Not in lineup again Saturday
Goldschmidt isn't starting against the Mets on Saturday.
Goldschmidt is beginning on the bench for the second time in New York's past three contests amid the team's five-game losing streak. The veteran first baseman has four hits (including three doubles) over his past three appearances, but the Yankees are going with Cody Bellinger at first base Saturday, while Ben Rice is occupying the DH spot.
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Back in action Saturday
Guerrero (foot) is starting at DH and batting third against the Angels on Saturday.
Guerrero sat out Friday's series opener after fouling a ball of his foot Thursday night, but he appears to have avoided a significant injury. While Toronto has elected to be cautious by slotting Guerrero in at DH instead of at first base, his presence in the lineup should elicit a sigh of relief from fantasy managers who roster him. Will Wagner is getting another start at first base Saturday, and it's unclear how long Guerrero will be held out from playing the field.
-
Josh Naylor 1B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor: Plays field Friday
Naylor started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Royals.
Naylor, who recently battled neck spasms, played the field for the first time since his return. He served as the designated hitter Wednesday before being held out of the starting nine against a tough left-hander Thursday. The RBI was his 55th, which ranks third on the team.
-
Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Pops homer Friday
Kurtz went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 11-2 win over the Giants.
Kurtz went 0-for-10 with three walks and eight strikeouts in the Athletics' previous three-game series versus the Rays. He was off to another poor start Friday with a groundout and two strikeouts in his first three at-bats before he unleashed a sixth-inning homer to stretch the Athletics' lead to 9-0. The first baseman's up to 13 homers, 34 RBI, 24 runs scored, no stolen bases and a .240/.308/.497 slash line over his first 50 major-league games. While his power is as advertised, his 34.3 percent strikeout rate is troubling, especially when it's trending in the wrong direction as it has over the last week-plus.
-
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Blasts two homers Friday
Pasquantino went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI in Friday's 9-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
Pasquantino set the tone with a three-run homer in the first inning, then added an RBI single in the second and a two-run blast in the fourth. He's been steady at the plate lately, going 16-for-57 (.281) with four homers, three doubles and 16 RBI over his last 15 games. The first baseman is up to 14 homers on the year, and he's added 55 RBI, 36 runs scored, one stolen base and a .271/.333/.431 slash line through 88 contests.
-
Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: Homers in four-hit effort
Walker went 4-for-5 with a home run, a hit-by-pitch, four RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 18-1 win over the Dodgers.
Walker delivered an RBI single in the first inning, a two-run homer in the third and drove in another run when he was plunked with the bases loaded in the sixth. After floundering a bit late in June, Walker is 10-for-19 with six RBI over four games to begin July. His homer Friday is his only extra-base hit of the month so far. The first baseman is at a .231/.293/.377 slash line with 11 long balls, 43 RBI, 35 runs scored, 12 doubles and one triple across 85 games this season.
-
Rhys Hoskins 1B | MIL
Brewers' Rhys Hoskins: Beginning on bench Friday
Hoskins is out of the starting lineup Friday versus Miami.
Hoskins isn't starting for the second time in the past four games while in the midst of a 3-for-22 stretch at the plate. Jake Bauers is taking Hoskins' spot at first base Friday.
-
Michael Busch 3B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Three-homer day in win
Busch went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI in Friday's 11-3 win over the Cardinals.
Busch went deep in the second, third and seventh innings, marking his first career three-homer game and the second multi-homer effort of his young career. The first baseman finished June with a stellar .309/.385/.617 slash line and has opened July with eight hits over four games. For the season, he's slashing .288/.373/.546 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 41 runs scored and four steals across 308 plate appearances.
-
Spencer Steer 1B | CIN
Reds' Spencer Steer: Stays hot in win
Steer went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 9-6 win over the Phillies.
Steer reached base in each of his first four plate appearances, highlighted by a two-run double that gave the Reds a 5-3 lead in the third inning. The 27-year-old has now hit safely in 12 of his past 14 games, collecting eight multi-hit efforts along with five home runs, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored and two steals. The recent surge has lifted his season slash line to .256/.313/.413 with 10 homers, 37 RBI, 37 runs scored and six stolen bases across 319 plate appearances.
-
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero: Sitting with foot issue
Guerrero is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels after fouling a ball off his foot Thursday night, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays haven't suggested Guerrero is dealing with a serious injury, but he will miss at least one start. It's unknown whether he underwent any sort of imaging after the incident. Will Wagner is starting at first base in Guerrero's absence.