MLB Player News
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Josh Rojas 3B | KC
White Sox's Josh Rojas: Sitting against righty
Rojas is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.
The left-handed-hitting Rojas had been excluded from the lineup in three of the past four games while the White Sox faced three lefty starters, but he'll be on the bench Monday against a righty (Shane Baz). For the season, Rojas is batting just .177/.243/.244 with one home run and four stolen bases in 182 plate appearances. Given his poor production along with the fact that he's on an expiring contract, Rojas could be at risk of moving into a bench role -- or potentially getting cut -- if the White Sox aren't able to find a taker for him prior to the July 31 trade deadline.
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Will Wagner DH | SD
Blue Jays' Will Wagner: On bench for second straight
Wagner is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
The Blue Jays are facing off against a lefty starter (Carlos Rodon) for the second straight game, so the left-handed-hitting Wagner will remain on the bench. Leo Jimenez will get another start at second base while Ernie Clement shifts over to third base.
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Addison Barger 3B | TOR
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Idle against southpaw
Barger is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.
The left-handed-hitting Barger started against a southpaw (Robbie Ray) and went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Giants, but he'll head to the bench Monday while the Blue Jays face a second straight lefty (Carlos Rodon). Joey Loperfido will spell Barger in right field and will bat ninth.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Back with big club
The Rangers recalled Jung from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday. He'll start at third base and bat eighth in the Rangers' series opener versus the Athletics.
Jung posted a weak .635 OPS at Round Rock after being sent down earlier this month, though he had slugged home runs in two of his last three games. He should get another chance to be the Rangers' primary third baseman, with Josh Smith shifting over to first base and Rowdy Tellez being used at designated hitter. Jung has slashed a disappointing .237/.283/.366 in the majors this season.
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Addison Barger 3B | TOR
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Clubs 14th homer
Barger went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Giants.
His fifth-inning shot off Spencer Bivens capped an impressive power display from the Blue Jays, as seven of the team's nine hits on the day went for extra bases. Barger is slashing a dazzling .340/.364/.698 through 15 games in July with five of his 14 homers on the season and 16 of his 42 RBI.
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Ryan Fitzgerald 3B | LAD
Twins' Ryan Fitzgerald: Back in action at Triple-A
Fitzgerald (hamstring) went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI on Sunday in Triple-A St. Paul's 6-1 win over Louisville after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list earlier that day.
Fitzgerald was on the shelf for just under a month due to a right hamstring strain. The 31-year-old infielder got the chance to make his MLB debut with the Twins in May, but he's spent the bulk of the campaign at Triple-A, slashing .293/.382/.492 with seven home runs and five steals in 220 plate appearances.
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Red Sox's Alex Bregman: Makes impact as pinch hitter
Bregman entered Sunday's game as a pinch hitter and hit a three-run home run in a 6-1 win over the Cubs.
The Red Sox are managing Bregman's return from a quadriceps injury and held him out of Sunday's starting lineup, but he had an impact off the bench. He helped the team emerge from an offensive slumber that saw the Red Sox score just one run through the first 24 innings of the series. Wilyer Abreu snapped a 21-inning scoreless skid with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, and then Bregman piled on one frame later. Bregman, who finished the game at third base, will start the first two games of the series against Philadelphia on Monday and Tuesday before getting a day off Wednesday.
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Zach McKinstry 2B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Reaches twice, steals base Sunday
McKinstry went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rangers. He also stole a base.
McKinstry plated the first run of the game with an RBI single in the top of the second inning. The utility player also swiped his 16th base of the season in 19 attempts. The 16 steals match a career best for McKinstry, who is nearing his career highs for home runs (nine) and RBI (35) in a season as well. The veteran has been a pleasant surprise, and his strong offensive play is keeping him in the lineup most days for Detroit.
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Miguel Vargas 3B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Homers, drives in three
Vargas went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer, a double and two runs scored in Sunday's win against Pittsburgh.
Vargas got the scoring started early with his three-run shot in the first inning. He snapped a 26-game homerless drought and is up to 11 long balls this season. Vargas also hit his 25th double of the year and finished the three-game series against the Pirates with four extra-base hits. He's slashing .222/.301/.398 with 38 extra-base hits and 49 runs scored through 395 plate appearances.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Delivers first career two-homer day
Lewis went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.
Lewis took full advantage of the Colorado air, mashing a pair of home runs Sunday -- a 451-foot blast in the fourth inning followed by another solo shot in the eighth. It marked the first multi-homer game of his career and his first long balls since returning from the injured list July 1. The 26-year-old had shown limited impact at the plate prior to this outburst but is now 12-for-47 (.255) with four extra-base hits over 14 games since his return. With Lewis' power stroke starting to resurface, he may be finding his rhythm just in time for a strong second half.