MLB Player News
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Gavin Lux SS | TB
Dodgers' Gavin Lux: Atones for error with walk-off hit
Lux went 1-for-3 with a double, a run, a walk and two RBI in a 5-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.
Lux's poor defense looked like it would cost the Dodgers a win throughout most of the contest, as his second-inning error resulted in four Phillies unearned runs. However, the infielder made up for the miscue in the bottom of the ninth inning, smacking a two-out double that plated the winning runs for Los Angeles. It was the first time Lux has knocked in any runs since May 4, as his chances have been limited with him batting at the bottom of the order.
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Luis Arraez 2B | SF
Twins' Luis Arraez: Out against lefty
Arraez is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Oakland.
With southpaw Zach Logue on the hill for Oakland, the lefty-hitting Arraez will give way at first base to the righty-hitting Jose Miranda. Arraez returned from a stint on the COVID-19-related injured list to start in each of the Twins' last four games, going 5-for-13 with four walks, a run and a stolen base.
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Vidal Brujan SS | NYM
Rays' Vidal Brujan: Filling in for Brandon Lowe
Brujan will start at second base and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Brujan will stick in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, with three of those starts coming at the keystone. Brandon Lowe should be the Rays' primary option at the keystone moving forward, but he may be dealing with a lingering injury at the moment, given that he'll be out of the lineup Monday for the second time in three days. If Lowe quickly moves past the injury, Brujan would still have a potential path to playing time in right field after Manuel Margot (hamstring) was placed on the injured list Sunday.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Not included in lineup Monday
Lowe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After being a late scratch ahead of Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays due to an unspecified injury or illness, Lowe checked back into the lineup for Sunday's series finale and went 1-for-4 with a run scored. However, Lowe was used as a designated hitter in that contest rather than his usual spot at second base, implying that he wasn't fully healthy. Lowe is back on the bench Monday for the second time in three days, but the Rays haven't suggested he experienced any sort of setback following Sunday's 3-0 win. Even so, fantasy managers in shallower leagues in particular may be enticed to turn to other options this week, especially with the knowledge that Lowe will start in only five games at a maximum.
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Nicky Lopez 3B | CHC
Royals' Nicky Lopez: Sitting Monday
Lopez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.
Lopez sits for just the third time this season. He's been very disappointing at the plate thus far, hitting .190/.283/.220, and he's stolen just a single base after swiping 22 bags last year. Bobby Witt Jr. will slide over to shortstop in his absence, with Emmanuel Rivera starting at third base.
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Danny Mendick 3B | CHW
White Sox's Danny Mendick: Optioned to Triple-A
Mendick was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.
Mendick should continue to receive bench opportunities whenever the White Sox need another infielder, but his career .237/.297/.348 slash line in 131 games at the highest level means he's unlikely to stick around for long or play a regular role. He'll vacate the roster here so the White Sox can add Johnny Cueto ahead of his season debut.
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Brendan Rodgers 2B | BOS
Rockies' Brendan Rodgers: Swinging hot bat
Rodgers went 2-for-5 with a run scored Sunday against the Royals.
Rodgers missed time with a hand injury earlier in the week, though he returned for Colorado's weekend series against the Royals. He delivered multiple hits in all three games and recorded a home run, five RBI and five runs scored. After a slow start to the season, Rodgers has dropped his strikeout rate to 22.1 percent and has progressively improved his line to .216/.260/.340 across 104 plate appearances.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Homers in return
Altuve went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Nationals.
Altuve returned from an undisclosed injury that caused him to exit Friday's game and miss Saturday's matchup. He went hitless in his first three at-bats but singled in the seventh inning before coming around to score. Altuve then led off the ninth frame with a solo home run, his seventh of the season. He's gone yard six times in his last 11 games, also driving in eight and scoring 13 runs. Across 92 plate appearances on the campaign, Altuve is hitting .259/.348/.531.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Royals' Whit Merrifield: Lifts second homer
Merrifield went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Rockies.
Merrifield hit a solo shot in the sixth inning and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. It's been a bounce-back week for the 33-year-old, who has hit safely in six straight games, going 10-for-27 (.370) with both of his home runs this season in that span. For the year, he's at a .183/.213/.252 slash line with 13 RBI, 13 runs scored and five stolen bases in 32 contests, though the recent uptick in hitting should be encouraging for fantasy managers who have been patient with him.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: Remains on bench Sunday
Estrada is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Estrada started 31 of 32 games at second base to begin the season for San Francisco, but he now finds himself on the bench for the second straight contest. He has a .242/.271/.350 slash line with two home runs, 18 RBI, 21 runs and five stolen bases this season, but his time working in an everyday role may be at an end following the return of Evan Longoria (finger) from the injured list. Wilmer Flores is starting at the keystone and batting third Sunday.