MLB Player News
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Not starting Thursday
Lowe is not in the starting nine for Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Astros on Thursday.
The 25-year-old has gone 3-for-9 with a home run and a double over the last two games in the ALDS, but won't start against Gerrit Cole on Thursday. Eric Sogard will start at second base, batting fifth.
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Luis Arraez 2B | SF
Twins' Luis Arraez: Returns to lineup
Arraez (ankle) will bat ninth and play second base in Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday against the Twins.
Arraez left Saturday's game against the Royals with an ankle sprain, but the issue was evidently fairly minor. He posted a .334/.399/.439 slash line in his 92-game rookie season, excellent numbers for a No. 9 hitter.
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Luis Arraez 2B | SF
Twins' Luis Arraez: Could be on roster for ALDS
Arraez (ankle) has healed enough to be considered for the roster in the American League Division Series against the Yankees, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The 22-year-old wasn't healthy enough to be considered for the 25-man roster earlier in the week but has healed enough to potentially be ready for the ALDS, manager Rocco Baldelli said Thursday. Arraez sustained a Grade 1 right ankle sprain Sept. 28 that put his status for the ALDS in doubt. If Arraez is unavailable, Jonathan Schoop would likely fill in at second base.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Yankees' Thairo Estrada: Won't play in ALDS
Estrada will not make the Yankees' ALDS roster, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Estrada was a long shot at best to make the postseason squad, having posting a modest .250/.294/.438 slash line in 69 plate appearances this season. With Gio Urshela (ankle) and Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) in line to be cleared to play, Estrada won't be needed.
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Franklin Barreto LF | BAL
Athletics' Franklin Barreto: Makes roster as expected
Barreto is on the Athletics' roster for Wednesday's wild-card game against the Rays, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Barreto was expected to secure the final bench spot with Stephen Piscotty not fully recovered from an ankle sprain. Barreto struggled to an awful .138/.263/.401 slash line in 23 games this season and is unlikely to be used as anything other than a pinch runner or defensive replacement.
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Franklin Barreto LF | BAL
Athletics' Franklin Barreto: Expected to make wild-card roster
Barreto is expected to be on the roster for the American League Wild Card Game on Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The 23-year-old struggled at the plate this season, recording just seven hits in 57 at-bats over 23 games, but he's expected to make the roster for the Wild Card Game due to his abilities as a pinch runner. It's unlikely that he will make the starting nine.
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Michael Chavis 2B | CIN
Red Sox's Michael Chavis: Skipping out on winter ball
The Red Sox no longer plan on having Chavis (oblique) take part in winter ball in Puerto Rico, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
After being placed on the 10-day injured list in mid-August with a right oblique issue, Chavis appeared to be eyeing a return to action during the final week of the regular season, but that ultimately didn't come to fruition. While Chavis isn't believed to be dealing with any sort of significant setback in his recovery, the Red Sox will have him turn his focus to getting healthy for the spring rather than making up for the at-bats he lost out on in August and September. With Mitch Moreland bound for free agency this winter and Dustin Pedroia (knee) potentially set to retire, Chavis should have a good chance at opening 2020 as a regular player on the right side of the Boston infield.
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Elvis Andrus 2B | ARI
Rangers' Elvis Andrus: Steals two bases in win
Andrus went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored in the Rangers' 6-1 win over the Yankees on Sunday.
Andrus capped off yet another productive season Sunday in which he had two stolen bases, one in the first and another in the third inning. The 31-year-old finished the season slashing .275/.313/.393 while hitting 12 home runs, driving in 72 runs, and stealing 31 bases.