MLB Player News
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Buddy Kennedy 3B | SF
Phillies' Buddy Kennedy: Heads back to Triple-A
The Phillies optioned Kennedy to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.
Kennedy's stay with the big club lasted just two days while fellow utility player Weston Wilson (personal) was on the paternity list. With Wilson rejoining the Phillies on Wednesday, Kennedy will return to Lehigh Valley, where he should settle back in as an everyday player.
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Nick Gonzales 2B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Hits in both games since return
Gonzales went 1-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI on Tuesday against the Cubs.
Gonzales returned from the injured list Monday after being sidelined since July 28, and he has started at second base while hitting fourth and third in two games. In that pair of starts, he has gone 3-for-9 with no strikeouts, and he should be locked into a key role in the Pirates' lineup for the final month of the campaign.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Hitting in cages
Marte (ankle) began hitting in a batting cage Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
It appears to be the first time Marte has swung a bat since landing on the injured list Aug. 19 with an ankle sprain. Manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that the 30-year-old infielder is no longer receiving treatment, though it remains unclear how far away he is from a return.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Swipes bag Monday
Bogaerts went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in a 7-4 win over St. Louis on Monday.
Bogaerts' RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the fifth frame. The second baseman is batting a respectable .276 in August, but he has only one homer and a modest nine RBI through 23 games. The lack of power and run production has been a season-long issue for Bogaerts -- he has just six home runs and 29 RBI across 83 contests overall.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Braves' Whit Merrifield: Knocks five hits
Merrifield went 5-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Twins.
Merrifield scored in each of the first two innings during his perfect day at the dish. The veteran utility man has fit right in since joining Atlanta; he's gone 25-for-80 (.313) in 25 games with his new squad. For the year, Merrifield owns a .678 OPS with 15 extra-base hits and 38 runs scored over 272 plate appearances.
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Vidal Brujan 2B | NYM
Marlins' Vidal Brujan: Filling in for injured Edwards
Brujan will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rockies.
Brujan will pick up a third consecutive start at shortstop in place of Xavier Edwards (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. The Marlins opted to call up an extra outfielder (Griffin Conine) from Triple-A Jacksonville rather than an infielder to replace Edwards on the active roster, so Brujan looks like he could have a clear path to a full-time role while Edwards is on the shelf. Brujan flashed an interesting blend of power and speed during his time in the minors, but he's produced an underwhelming .638 OPS over 259 plate appearances with Miami this season and hasn't been efficient on the basepaths (five stolen bases in 10 attempts) either.