MLB Player News
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Jackson Holliday SS | BAL
Orioles' Jackson Holliday: Logs first career steal
Holliday went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Holliday reached on a fielder's choice and stole second in the fourth inning, earning his first major-league steal. Speed has been a small part of his game during his rapid ascent through the minors -- he swiped 36 bags over 218 minor-league contests, including eight thefts in 73 games at Triple-A Norfolk this year. A more pressing concern is his current slump at the plate, which has seen him go just 3-for-34 (.088) over 11 contests since a four-hit game Aug. 16. He's maintained a starting role at second base despite the slump, as the Orioles don't have much proven infield depth. Livan Soto or Emmanuel Rivera are the team's infield options, though Coby Mayo could also re-enter the mix when rosters expand Sept. 1. Jordan Westburg (hand) is not expected back until mid-September at the earliest.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Rare day off Thursday
Bogaerts is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in St. Louis, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Bogaerts had a day off in his second game back from the injured list back on July 13, but Thursday's contest will mark the first time he's been out of the lineup since then. Donovan Solano will enter the lineup in his place at designated hitter, with Jake Cronenworth covering second base and Luis Arraez manning third base.
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Brooks Baldwin SS | CHW
White Sox's Brooks Baldwin: Absent from lineup
Baldwin is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.
Baldwin also sat out the second game of Wednesday's quasi-doubleheader, so he's technically hitting the bench for a second straight contest. He's slashed only .216/.256/.324 in his first 32 big-league games. Lenyn Sosa will start at second base, and Nicky Lopez will handle shortstop for the White Sox in the series finale.
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Brandon Drury 1B | CHW
Angels' Brandon Drury: Heading to bench Thursday
Drury is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Drury will get a breather for the day game after a night game, opening up the keystone for Michael Stefanic in the series finale in Detroit. After another hitless effort in Wednesday's 3-2 loss, Drury is now slashing an abysmal .153/.239/.202 over 280 plate appearances. Given Drury's season-long struggles along with the fact that he's scheduled to become a free agent this offseason, the Angels could look to push him into more of a part-time role in September.
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Zack Gelof 2B | ATH
Athletics' Zack Gelof: Nabs two steals in win
Gelof went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Reds.
The 24-year-old had a tough start to the season, but he's found a groove in August. Over his last 20 games, Gelof is slashing .279/.346/.456 with three homers, six steals, seven RBI and 12 runs. That surge has boosted his OPS on the year to only .640 -- a major disappointment after he posted an .841 OPS as a rookie in 2023 -- but Gelof is closing in on a 20-20 campaign with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases in 109 contests.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Reaches 20 steals
Altuve went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Phillies.
Altuve contributed to a 10-run offensive outburst by the Astros and continued a well-rounded run of production. He tallied a stolen base for the second straight game, bringing his total on the season to 20 -- his highest mark since 2018. Altuve has also picked up his power pace of late, recording three homers and two doubles across his last 12 starts.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Lifts 11th homer
Massey went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Guardians.
Massey gave the Royals a hot start, taking Tanner Bibee's fourth pitch of the game over the fence in right field. The long ball snapped a 14-game homerless drought for Massey, who still hit a strong .327 (16-for-49) with three doubles and five RBI in that span. He hasn't been an everyday player lately, but his playing time has ticked up with Adam Frazier shifting to right field to cover for the injured Hunter Renfroe (hamstring). Massey still has to contend with Maikel Garcia at second base, though Garcia can also play third and Massey occasionally serves as the designated hitter. For the season, Massey is slashing .270/.297/.472 with 11 homers, 37 RBI, 38 runs scored and no stolen bases over 72 games.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | COL
Giants' Thairo Estrada: Placed on waivers
The Giants placed Estrada on waivers Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Estrada has taken a considerable step back at the plate this season, slashing .216/.246/.345 with nine home runs and 46 RBI through 374 plate appearances. Due to his poor performance, the Giants have now made him available for any other team willing to pay the remainder of the $4.7 million contract he signed with San Francisco during the offseason. He is still eligible to play while on waivers.
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Brooks Baldwin SS | CHW
White Sox's Brooks Baldwin: Not starting nightcap
Baldwin isn't in the White Sox's lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Texas.
Baldwin will take a seat to conclude Wednesday's activities after going 1-for-3 during a loss in Game 1. Lenyn Sosa will shift to second base while Baldwin sits, allowing Miguel Vargas to start at the hot corner and bat eighth.
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Brendan Rodgers 2B | HOU
Rockies' Brendan Rodgers: Resting amid slump
Rodgers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
Rodgers is likely getting a veteran's rest day after he had started each of the Rockies' last 20 games. He owns an .818 OPS for August but has cooled off at the plate of late, going 3-for-24 with 11 strikeouts and no walks over his last six contests. Aaron Schunk will step in at second base for the slumping Rodgers.