MLB Player News
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Michael Stefanic 2B | TOR
Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to Triple-A
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
Stefanic has always been known for a strong hit tool and little else, and while he hit .349 at Triple-A this season, he only hit .190 with zero home runs in 25 MLB plate appearances. He was replaced on the active roster by Jordyn Adams.
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Nolan Gorman 2B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Gorman: Remains out Tuesday
Gorman (back) is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Twins.
Gorman was scratched from Sunday's series finale against the Cubs due to back tightness and isn't ready to return even after Monday's scheduled team off day. Taylor Motter will start at second base for the Cardinals on Tuesday as Jordan Walker takes a turn as the designated hitter.
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Jake Alu LF | WAS
Nationals' Jake Alu: Gets look at third base
Alu is starting at third base and batting eighth Tuesday against the Brewers.
Alu will be making his first career start at third base, after his other four starts with Washington this season came in left field. The utility man was called up Monday after the Nationals traded Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs. Alu was slashing .298/.360/.428 with five home runs and 16 steals through 74 games this season at Triple-A Rochester and could get an extended look with the big club over the final two months of the 2023 campaign.
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Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Homers again Monday
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's victory over the Yankees.
Lowe belted the first of four Tampa Bay home runs against Jhony Brito, a two-run blast in the first inning. The 29-year-old Lowe now has four long balls in his last six games while going 10-for-23 (.435) in that span. The second baseman can certainly be streaky, but he's hitting .284 with a .959 OPS over 21 games since returning from the IL on July 4. Overall, Lowe is slashing .226/.320/.449 with 14 homers, 42 RBI, 35 runs scored and five stolen bases through 278 plate appearances this season.
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Ketel Marte 2B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte: Plates game-winning run
Marte went 1-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 4-3 extra-innings win over the Giants.
Marte did not get the ball out of the infield in his first four at-bats, but the second baseman salvaged the night with a run-scoring double in the top of the 11th inning to plate the game-winning run. He's hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games, going 17-for-43 (.395) with a double, three triples, two home runs, six RBI, seven walks and seven runs scored.
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Jose Altuve 2B | HOU
Astros' Jose Altuve: Swipes two bags Monday
Altuve went 1-for-2 with three walks, two runs and two stolen bases in a 7-3 victory versus the Guardians on Monday.
Altuve began the Astros' half of the first inning with a bunt single and a stolen base to set the tone for a healthy stat line that included his first multi-steal game of the campaign. The veteran second baseman hadn't been running much prior to Monday, as he hadn't swiped a bag over his previous 11 contests. However, Altuve has been hitting well since returning from the injured list July 26, going 7-for-18 with a homer, two RBI, five runs and three walks over five games.
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Brendan Rodgers 2B | BOS
Rockies' Brendan Rodgers: Goes 1-for-4 in season debut
Rodgers (shoulder) went 1-for-4 in Monday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Padres.
Rodgers missed four months of the campaign while recovering from a shoulder injury. He got the nod at designated hitter Monday, though he should also eventually enter the mix for playing time at second base, which has primarily been Harold Castro's position lately. Rodgers slashed .266/.325/.408 with 13 home runs over 137 contests last season, so he should provide some modest pop and on-base skills if he can work his way into an everyday role.
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Luis Rengifo 2B | MIL
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Shines again out of leadoff spot
Rengifo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk against Atlanta on Monday in a 4-1 victory.
Rengifo gave Los Angeles a quick lead when he belted a solo shot on Charlie Morton's third pitch of the game. Rengifo finished with multiple hits for the third straight day, and he's collected three extra-base knocks while going 6-for-12 with three walks over that span. The utility man is seeing everyday at-bats for the time being, though that may change in the near future with Brandon Drury (shoulder) nearing a rehab assignment and subsequent return.
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Jake Alu LF | WAS
Nationals' Jake Alu: Back with Nats
The Nationals recalled Alu from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
After the Nationals traded Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs on Monday, they will bring up Alu to fill the active roster. He is just 3-for-14 with a stolen base across five games in the majors this season, and Washington will have plenty of at-bats available for players like Alu over the final two months.