MLB Player News
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Shut down from throwing
Westburg has been shut down from throwing after feeling discomfort in his right elbow, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Westburg has been sidelined by a partial UCL tear in his right elbow since mid-February. He was steadily progressing through his recovery, including swinging a bat and a throwing program, but he has recently hit a setback and will be shut down until he's reevaluated by the Orioles' medical staff. Westburg is eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list in late May, but he may need a longer stint on the IL depending on how his elbow responds over the coming days.
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Tyler Black 2B | MIL
Brewers' Tyler Black: Sitting again Monday
Black is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
After hitting the bench for Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Nationals while right-hander Zack Littell served as Washington's primary pitcher, Black will remain out of the starting nine against a righty starter (Kyle Leahy) for the series opener in St. Louis. Since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on April 24, Black has shined at the plate with nine hits -- including four doubles -- and seven RBI over 21 at-bats, but his pathway to regular playing time appears to have closed with the Brewers bringing Jackson Chourio (hand) and Andrew Vaughn (hand) back from the injured list Monday. Black could be optioned back to Nashville in the coming days if Milwaukee wants him to continue playing on an everyday basis rather than using him in a more limited utility role at the big-league level.
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Brice Turang 2B | MIL
Brewers' Brice Turang: Ready to start Monday
Turang (illness) will start at second base and bat third in Monday's game against the Cardinals.
After Turang fell ill and was scratched from the starting nine ahead of Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Nationals, manager Pat Murphy told Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel following the game that the Brewers were in "wait-and-see" mode with the second baseman heading into team's three-game series in St. Louis. Turang looks like he bounced back well from the ailment overnight and will slot back into a new-look Milwaukee lineup. He'll hit out of the No. 3 spot in the order for just sixth time this season while the Brewers welcome two key lineup pieces in Jackson Chourio (hand) and Andrew Vaughn (hand) back from the injured list.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Sitting Monday
Massey is not in the Royals' starting lineup against the Guardians on Monday.
Massey will be on the bench for the beginning of Monday's game while Nick Loftin starts at second base and bats ninth. Massey is in the midst of a slump at the plate, having gone 1-for-20 with one steal, one RBI, two runs scored and a 2:7 BB:K over his last seven games.
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Connor Norby 2B | MIA
Marlins' Connor Norby: Exiting starting nine Monday
Norby is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Though he'll be taking a seat for Monday's series finale, Norby still appears to be ahead of Christopher Morel in the pecking order at first base. Since Morel was activated from the injured list last Monday, Norby started in five of the Marlins' ensuing seven games and went 5-for-18 with two doubles, three walks, two stolen bases and an RBI during that stretch.
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Gleyber Torres 2B | DET
Tigers' Gleyber Torres: Out again, but available off bench
Torres (side) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game versus the Red Sox.
Torres departed Saturday's game against the Rangers with left side tightness and will now miss a second straight start. Per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Torres could be available to pinch hit Monday, suggesting the 29-year-old is likely to avoid the injured list. Hao-Yu Lee will start at second base in Monday's series opener.
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Edouard Julien 2B | COL
Rockies' Edouard Julien: Taking seat Monday
Julien is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.
Right-hander Huascar Brazoban is opening the game for the Mets, but the left-handed-hitting Julien will hit the bench to begin Monday's contest since New York will be using a lefty (David Peterson) in bulk relief. With Julien taking a seat, Tyler Freeman will occupy the designated-hitter spot and Willi Castro will start at second bas.
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Ozzie Albies 2B | ATL
Braves' Ozzie Albies: Hit streak at 15 games
Albies went 2-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored and an RBI in Sunday's win over the Rockies.
The switch-hitting second baseman extended his hitting streak to 15 games, tying his career high, with another dazzling performance. Albies is slashing .421/.470/.702 during his streak with seven doubles, three homers, 13 RBI and 14 runs, as well as a stellar 7:4 BB:K.
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Brendan Donovan 2B | SEA
Mariners' Brendan Donovan: Beginning rehab assignment Tuesday
Donovan (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Arkansas on Tuesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Donovan was previously expected to return before the end of the team's current homestand. That's now off the table, but if all goes well during his two-game stint with Arkansas, the 29-year-old will likely return Friday in Chicago. Donovan said recently that his groin issue will need to be monitored moving forward and is likely related to last year's sports hernia surgery.
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Jose Caballero 2B | NYY
Yankees' Jose Caballero: Sticking as starting shortstop
Caballero appears to have earned himself an extended run as the Yankees' primary shortstop after the team reinstated Anthony Volpe (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
General manager Brian Cashman said April 10 that the Yankees' goal was for Volpe to reclaim the everyday shortstop job once healthy enough to do so, but that plan appears to have shifted with Volpe being optioned to Triple-A at the conclusion of his 20-day rehab window. Caballero has put himself in position to hang onto Volpe's former role with a strong start to the season, as he leads MLB shortstops with seven defensive runs saved while posting a serviceable .259/.306/.405 slash line to go along with four home runs, 15 runs, 12 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 33 games. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Caballero's seizing of the lead shortstop role Sunday, noting that the speedy veteran has "played himself into and earned himself more playing time." However, Boone also left the door open for Caballero to move back into a super-utility role down the road, so the 29-year-old may need to maintain his current level of performance to ensure he holds off Volpe for the job for the rest of the season. For now, fantasy managers who have enjoyed Caballero's contributions on the basepaths and his surprising uptick in power should plan on continuing to plug him into lineups with more confidence now that Volpe is at least temporarily out of the picture.