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Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Isiah Kiner-Falefa: On verge of return
Kiner-Falefa (forearm) could be activated from the 60-day injured list during Boston's series in Miami, which begins Monday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Kiner-Falefa, who has been on the IL since June 19 due to stress reaction in his right forearm, spent last week on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester, going 1-for-13 over four games. Once activated, Kiner-Falefa is expected to step back into a utility role, as teammate Trevor Story (sports hernia) could also come off the injured list during the Marlins series and reclaim the starting job at shortstop.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Goes deep in loss
Altuve went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the A's.
Altuve extended the Astros' lead to 3-0 in the first inning with a two-run blast off Brady Basso, his 14th homer of the year and first in 14 games. While Altuve's power numbers have taken a step back, the veteran second-baseman has been swinging the bat well of late, going 21-for-67 (.313) across 19 games since the start of August. Overall, Altuve is slashing .245/.309/.399 with 57 runs scored, 40 RBI and four steals across 445 plate appearances this season.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B | NYY
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm: Homers Sunday
Chisholm went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Blue Jays.
Chisholm extended New York's lead to 7-2 in the seventh inning with a two-out, two-strike blast off lefty Brendon Little, his 18th homer this season and first in 15 games. Chisholm has now gone 4-for-8 with a pair of extra-base hits in his last two contests after going just 4-for-25 (.160) in his prior eight games. Overall, he's slashing .220/.297/.397 through 474 plate appearances this year with 60 runs scored, 51 RBI and seven stolen bases.
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Nick Sogard 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Nick Sogard: Goes yard in Sunday's win
Sogard went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Giants.
Sogard got the Red Sox on the board with a solo homer over the Green Monster in the second inning before adding a double in the fourth frame. The infielder has been on a tear of late, logging multiple hits in five of his past six contests. In 150 plate appearances this season, Sogard is slashing .287/.401/.426 with two homers, nine RBI and 20 runs.
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Cody Freeman 3B | TEX
Rangers' Cody Freeman: Picking up another start
Freeman will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Angels.
Freeman will draw a fourth straight start after going 2-for-6 with a walk over the previous three contests. Three of those starts have come against left-handed pitching, so Freeman doesn't appear to have solidified himself as a near-everyday player for the Rangers and may be benefiting from a favorable runout of pitching matchups.
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Nicky Lopez 2B | TEX
Rangers' Nicky Lopez: On bench for fourth straight game
Lopez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Lopez will hit the bench for a fourth straight game, with three of those absences coming against left-handed pitching. Justin Foscue will draw the start at the keystone Sunday, but Lopez still appears to be the favored option at the position versus righties.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Day off Sunday
Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
After starting in the last three games, the left-handed-hitting Massey will hit the bench for the series finale while the Tigers send a lefty primary pitcher (Andrew Sears) to the bump. Tyler Tolbert will spell Massey at second base and will bat seventh.
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Zach McKinstry RF | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Sent to bench against lefty
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.
After starting in five of the Tigers' previous six games, the left-handed-hitting McKinstry will retreat to the bench while the Royals send southpaw Daniel Lynch to the hill. Ben Malgeri will replace McKinstry in right field and will bat seventh.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | ATH
Athletics' Jeff McNeil: Taking seat Sunday
McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
McNeil started the previous six games and will receive Sunday off after batting .308 (8-for-26) with a double, a homer, four RBI and three runs during that span. Tommy White will step in at first base and bat fifth versus Houston righty Cristian Javier.
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Donovan Walton 2B | ATH
Athletics' Donovan Walton: Goes yard in Saturday's win
Walton went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Astros.
Walton opened the scoring with a 422-foot blast to center field in the third inning, his first homer since June 15 when he was a member of the Angels. Since being picked up by the Athletics on July 12, the journeyman infielder is slashing .230/.397/.377 with six RBI, 14 runs and two stolen bases across 79 plate appearances. Overall, Walton has a .283/.374/.454 line with four homers, 18 RBI, 28 runs and two stolen bases in 176 plate appearances this season.