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Jonathan India 2B | KC
Reds' Jonathan India: Remains on bench Sunday
India is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Colorado.
The 25-year-old was scratched from Saturday's lineup to provide him a recovery day after returning from the injured list earlier in the week, and he's out of the starting nine again Sunday. The extra game off will provide India three straight days of rest thanks to Monday's scheduled off day. Matt Reynolds will start at the keystone in his place and bat eighth.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Royals' Whit Merrifield: On base three times
Merrifield went 1-for-3 with two walks in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Yankees.
Merrifield hadn't gotten on base multiple times in a game since April 12 as he's struggled to begin the season. The versatile veteran is slashing just .141/.190/.179 with three stolen bases, four RBI, four runs scored and three doubles in 19 contests. He's been bumped from the leadoff spot for Nicky Lopez, though neither of them are doing much to impress with the bat. With Adalberto Mondesi (knee) likely out for the season, Merrifield should serve as the everyday second baseman. His strong defense is enough to keep him in the lineup, allowing him the opportunity to play through a slump on offense.
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Ha-seong Kim SS | ATL
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: Poaching playing time from Abrams
Kim will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Though the Padres will include the righty-hitting Kim and lefty-hitting CJ Abrams in the lineup Sunday as their starters up the middle, the former looks to have moved ahead of the latter on the depth chart at shortstop. Abrams was on the bench for both of the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh, despite the Pirates bringing a pair of right-handers (Zach Thompson and JT Brubaker) to the hill for those games. Kim has helped his case for sticking in a full-time role at shortstop by going 7-for-15 with two home runs, three doubles, seven RBI and five runs over his last four starts.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: Drives in three Saturday
Estrada went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Nationals.
He laced a two-run double into left-center in the third inning to get the Giants on the board, then added a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the fifth to put San Francisco in the lead for good. Estrada is batting only .205 (8-for-39) over the last 11 games, but he's still provided a little fantasy value with two steals, four runs and six RBI.
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Brendan Rodgers 2B | BOS
Rockies' Brendan Rodgers: Returning to action Sunday
Rodgers (back) is starting at second base and batting eighth Sunday against the Reds, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Rodgers was unavailable the past four games while dealing with back soreness, but he'll rejoin the lineup for Sunday's series finale. The 25-year-old is 4-for-51 through 14 games this season and may not have much longer to break out of his slump before shifting to a reduced role.
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Christian Arroyo 2B | NYM
Red Sox's Christian Arroyo: Not starting Sunday
Arroyo (calf) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Following Saturday's 2-1 loss, Arroyo relayed that he was dealing with tightness in his left calf, but the extent of the injury isn't yet fully known. The issue is significant enough to send him to the bench Sunday, though Arroyo may have been in line to fill his typical utility role anyway with J.D. Martinez (adductor) returning from a three-game absence. Arroyo had filled in for Martinez as Boston's designated hitter the past two days, going 1-for-7 with a home run and two RBI between those starts.
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Andy Ibanez 2B | NYM
Rangers' Andy Ibanez: Moves up order
Ibanez batted sixth and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 3-1 win over Atlanta.
Ibanez had been mired in the lower third of the order before a stretch of consistent hitting resulted in him moving up. He extended his hitting streak to five games and swiped his second bag of the season. Ibanez is a fixture at third base against right-handed starters while Charlie Culberson starts against lefties.
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Josh Rojas 3B | KC
Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas: May need more time
Rojas (oblique) is unlikely to return for Arizona's series against the Marlins beginning Monday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Rojas is still progressing and taking at-bats in extended spring training. It's unclear if the organization wants to see him on a minor-league rehab assignment or if at-bats at the team's training facility are enough.
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Michael Chavis 2B | CIN
Pirates' Michael Chavis: Swats clutch homer Saturday
Chavis went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in a 7-6 win over the Padres on Saturday.
After the Padres took the lead in the top of the eighth inning on a Manny Machado two-run homer, Chavis responded in the bottom of the frame with a two-run shot of his own to re-tie the score. The infielder had previously knocked in the Pirates' first run of the game with a first-inning single. Chavis' homer was his first in over a week and third through 60 plate appearances this season. He hit the same number of long balls in 124 plate appearances in 2021.