MLB Player News
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Whit Merrifield 2B | ATL
Braves' Whit Merrifield: Homer, stolen base in win
Merrifield went 1-for-4 with a solo homer and a stolen base in Saturday's win over the Angels.
Merrifield swiped his 15th bag of the season in the second inning after reaching on a fielder's choice and then went on to score Atlanta's fourth run of the contest on a single from Michael Harris. The second baseman would later spark a five-run inning with a leadoff homer in the fifth, marking his first long ball since June 8 against the Mets. Merrifield has now hit safely in three of his last four games and has scored at least one run in three of his last five.
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Christopher Morel 2B | TB
Rays' Christopher Morel: Not starting Sunday
Morel is absent from Sunday's lineup against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Morel will begin the contest in the dugout after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 6-1 win over Arizona. He has struggled from the plate since the All-Star break and has slashed .128/.244/.205 with two home runs, three RBI and a 32.2 percent strikeout rate across 88 plate appearances over that span. Brandon Lowe will take over DH duties for the series finale.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | NYM
Mets' Jeff McNeil: Out of Sunday's lineup
McNeil is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.
McNeil started the previous 10 games and had an .839 OPS during that span, but he'll receive a day off for Sunday's series finale. Jose Iglesias will step in at the keystone and bat seventh against Miami righty Valente Bellozo.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Not in lineup Sunday
Marte is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
After sitting out for three games due a low-grade ankle sprain, Marte returned to the lineup Saturday and went 1-for-3 with a walk. He'll sit for the series finale as he gets eased back into things, with Kevin Newman starting at second base and batting ninth.
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Marcus Semien 2B | TEX
Rangers' Marcus Semien: Moved back to leadoff
Semien batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Minnesota.
Semien, who had been batting third in the order against all pitchers, was at leadoff for the sixth consecutive game Saturday, all against right-handers. He's hit safely in all six, going 7-for-29 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and four runs scored.
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Xander Bogaerts 2B | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Swipes bag, tallies two hits
Bogaerts went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored while also drawing a walk in Saturday's win over Colorado.
Bogaerts walked and stole second in his second trip to the plate before then getting caught trying to steal third. The second baseman would add singles in each of his next two at-bats, with the latter one driving home Jurickson Profar to extend San Diego's lead to seven runs. It was the fifth multi-hit performance this month for Bogaerts, and he's now hit safely in five of his last six games. He's batting .268 (15-for-56) in August with six RBI, eight runs and just three extra-base hits, while Saturday's stolen base marked his seventh of the campaign.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: On base twice in return
Marte went 1-for-3 with a walk in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Rays.
Marte was back in the lineup, albeit as a designated hitter, after missing three games due to a left ankle injury. He batted leadoff against a left-hander, which has been the custom since late June. Marte was first injured Aug. 10 and attempted to return a couple of days later but was pulled from that contest. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told MLB.com that Marte will be brought back cautiously as the DH. It's unclear how long it will be before he returns to the field.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | TB
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Belts 15th homer
Lowe went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks.
The second baseman wrapped up the scoring on the night by taking Dylan Floro deep in the sixth inning. Lowe has found his power stroke since the All-Star break -- he has 15 homers on the season but seven have come in his last 25 games, a stretch in which he's slashing .258/.321/.567 with nine doubles, four steals, 14 runs and 20 RBI.
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS | PIT
Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Three hits, homer in win
Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Mariners.
Kiner-Falefa put the Pirates on top early with a leadoff homer and later added two singles for his first three-hit effort with his new club. The 29-year-old has tallied multiple hits in five of his past 10 games with a home run and three steals. On the season, he is batting .293 with eight long balls, 38 RBI, 37 runs scored and six stolen bases across 361 plate appearances.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Productive in win
Altuve went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the White Sox.
Altuve did well from atop the order, putting the Astros ahead with a two-run single in the third inning. His steal Saturday was his 16th of the year but his first since July 14. The second baseman has gone 14-for-58 (.241) in August, and he's at a .299/.350/.435 slash line with 15 home runs, 52 RBI, 69 runs scored and 22 doubles across 119 contests.