MLB Player News
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Crosses plate three times Saturday
Altuve went 3-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Diamondbacks.
It was another strong showing from the leadoff spot for the likely future Hall of Famer. Altuve has caught fire as Houston pushes for another AL West title, racking up six multi-hit performances in his last 15 games while slashing .327/.403/.564 with three homers, two steals, six RBI and 13 runs. The 34-year-old second baseman is one long ball short of his third career 20-20 campaign, and his first since 2017.
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Luke Williams SS | ATL
Braves' Luke Williams: Records two hits, swipes bag
Williams went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to Toronto.
Williams reached on an infield single in the bottom of the third before going on to swipe his second bag of the campaign. The infielder would later add a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth, while also being charged with two costly fielding errors in the contest. The two hits were Williams' first this month, and Saturday marked only his second multi-hit performance of the season. He's now batting .167 (2-for-12) in September with two RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored.
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Spencer Horwitz 1B | TOR
Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz: Homers twice, plates three in win
Horwitz went 4-for-5 with a double, two homers, three RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's win over Atlanta.
Horwitz was a problem for Atlanta all night, smacking a leadoff homer in the second to put Toronto on the board, along with a second leadoff shot in the fourth to kick off a three-run inning for the Blue Jays. The infielder didn't stop there, however, adding an RBI double and a single in the contest to give him his first four-hit performance of the campaign. Horwitz has now tallied multiple hits in three of his last six starts, batting .423 (11-for-26) with three homers, six RBI and six runs scored over that stretch. He's also hit safely in each of his last three starts.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Serves as DH again
Marte started at designated hitter, went 0-for-4 and was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 11-5 loss to Houston.
Marte, who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, served as the DH for a second consecutive game, as it appears the Diamondbacks want to be cautious. He had tried a couple of times to return from the injury in August only to aggravate it before eventually getting time on the IL to heal properly. Marte is hitless in nine plate appearances over the two games but did get a chance to run the bases Saturday, suggesting the ankle is okay now.
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Zack Gelof 2B | OAK
Athletics' Zack Gelof: Up to 21 steals
Gelof went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run in a loss to the Tigers on Saturday.
Gelof extended his hitting streak to four games while also recording his fourth steal in the last 11 contests. Gelof has picked up the pace at the plate of late, hitting .269 over his last seven games and knocking four of his seven hits during that span for extra bases. Nevertheless, his contact issues persist, with Gelof sitting on a 32.9 percent strikeout rate over the 43 games he's played since the All-Star break.
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Romy Gonzalez 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Wreaks havoc on basepaths
Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI, three stolen bases and two runs scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.
Gonzalez had not logged a steal since July 26, making him an unlikely candidate to swipe three bags in a game. Even with his show of speed Saturday, he's at 10 steals this season. The utility man has added a .285/.333/.437 slash line with four home runs, 23 RBI, 19 runs scored and 10 doubles over 174 plate appearances. He hasn't been strictly limited to a short-side platoon role, but the return of Trevor Story (shoulder) may make it tougher for Gonzalez to pick up at-bats versus righties.
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Nick Gonzales 2B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Sitting out Game 2
Gonzales isn't in the Pirates' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals.
After going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored during Game 1, Gonzales will step out of the starting nine to conclude Saturday's twin bill. In his place, Alika Williams will get the starting nod at second base and bat ninth.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Braves' Whit Merrifield: Diagnosed with foot fracture
Merrifield was diagnosed with a fractured left foot Saturday but is hopeful to return in time for a three-game series against the Dodgers that starts Sept. 13, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Merrifield fouled a ball off his foot Friday and further testing revealed he's dealing with a fracture. While he'll miss some time, a stay on the injured list doesn't seem necessary. With Merrifield sidelined, expect Luke Williams to handle most of the work at second base.
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Braves' Whit Merrifield: On bench Saturday
Merrifield (foot) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.
Merrifield exited Friday's game after fouling a ball off his left foot and will get the night off Saturday. In his place, Luke Williams will play second base and bat ninth.
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Rodolfo Castro 2B | PHI
Phillies' Rodolfo Castro: Bumped to 60-day IL
The Phillies recalled Castro (thumb) from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday and placed on the 60-day injured list, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Castro had already been ruled out for the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb, but his shift to the Phillies' 60-day IL opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Jose Cuas. The utility player didn't appear in a game for the Phillies in 2024 and slashed .211/.282/.310 in 78 plate appearances for Lehigh Valley before being shut down in August.