MLB Player News
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Christopher Morel DH | MIA
Rays' Christopher Morel: Sitting Friday
Morel is not in Friday's lineup against the Orioles.
This is only Morel's second time out of the lineup in the last 10 games, even though he is hitting .191 with 42 strikeouts and three home runs in 31 games since getting traded to Tampa Bay. Jose Caballero draws the start at second base while Taylor Walls mans shortstop.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Sitting Friday
Lowe is not in Friday's lineup against the Orioles.
Even with a righty (Dean Kremer) on the hill for Baltimore, Lowe will head to the bench after starting six games in a row. Yandy Diaz draws the start at designated hitter while Jonathan Aranda starts at first base.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Braves' Whit Merrifield: Good to go Friday
Merrifield (head) is starting at second base and batting second Friday against the Blue Jays.
The 35-year-old sat out the past two games after being struck in the head by a pitch Tuesday, but he's back in action for Friday's series opener versus Toronto. Merrifield has been fairly productive since latching on with Atlanta and has a .248/.359/.349 slash line with a homer and five stolen bases in 33 games.
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Brendan Rodgers 2B | HOU
Rockies' Brendan Rodgers: Not in Friday's lineup
Rodgers is out of the lineup for Friday's game at Milwaukee.
Rodgers started the previous seven games but will receive a day off after batting .310 (9-for-29) with three homers during that stretch. Aaron Schunk will take over at second base and bat ninth in the series opener.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Three hits, homer in loss
Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Thursday's loss to the Tigers.
Bogaerts jumped on a hanging slider from Casey Mize in the bottom of the second inning and launched it into the left-field stands, extending San Diego's lead to three runs. The infielder would also add two singles to give him his fifth game this season with three or more hits, but his first since July 27 against Baltimore. The long ball was Bogaerts' eighth of the campaign, and he's now batting .357 (5-for-14) in September with three RBI and three runs scored.
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Bryson Stott 2B | PHI
Phillies' Bryson Stott: Launches 11th long ball
Stott went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI Thursday against the Marlins.
Stott kicked off the scoring in the first inning for the Phillies with a two-out RBI single, then later added a solo shot, his 11th homer of the season. It was the fourth multi-hit effort over the last 10 games for Stott, but he's failed to collect a hit in each of the other six games during that stretch. Stott is slashing .243/.319/.367 across 496 plate appearances with 30 extra-base hits, 51 RBI, 59 runs and 29 steals in 31 attempts.
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Nick Gonzales 2B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Drives in three
Gonzales went 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBI Thursday against the Nationals.
Gonzales posted a two-RBI single to cap a five-run second, then later drove in his third run with a bases-loaded walk. In nine games since returning from the injured list with a groin injury, Gonzales has hit 12-for-40 (.300) with five RBI, five runs, three doubles and a stolen base.
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Luis Garcia 2B | WAS
Nationals' Luis Garcia: Sitting versus lefty
Garcia is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Pittsburgh.
It's a day off for the left-handed hitting Garcia as the Pirates send southpaw Bailey Falter to the bump. The switch-hitting Ildemaro Vargas will start at second base and bat sixth in the series opener.
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Edouard Julien 2B | COL
Twins' Edouard Julien: Hits first home run since April
Julien went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rays.
Julien took Taj Bradley deep in the second inning for his eighth home run of the season and his first since April 25. Julien's blast snapped a 54-game homerless streak, which was the longest of his career entering Thursday. Since his most recent call-up in the middle of August, the 25-year-old is hitting .282 over 19 games, but he hasn't started against a lefty since Aug. 16 and he even sat out against a righty Wednesday.