MLB Player News
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Justyn-Henry Malloy DH | DET
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Getting Sunday off
Malloy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Malloy will head to the bench after he had served as the Tigers' designated hitter for each of the past three games while going 3-for-12 with a home run, a double and three RBI. The 24-year-old is providing a decent amount of power (three extra-base hits) in his first taste of the majors, but he's hitting just .188 with a 38.5 percent strikeout rate through 39 plate appearances. Malloy's hold on an everyday role could be tenuous, and he may be headed back to Triple-A Toledo if his playing time slips in the days to come.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Ready for rehab stint
Jung (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jung, who suffered a fractured right wrist early in the season, resumed swinging the bat in late May and progressed to live batting practice earlier this week. He's now ready for game action, which puts a return to the Rangers before the end of the month very much on the table. Expect Jung to slot back in at third base immediately upon activation after his All-Star campaign in 2023.
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Taylor Walls SS | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Battling illness
Walls isn't available for Sunday's game against Atlanta due to an illness, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The switch-hitting Walls' bout with the illness might help explain why he's out of the lineup Sunday against a right-hander (Hurston Waldrep) for the second day in a row. Jose Caballero -- who had been battling an illness of his own lately -- was scheduled to start at shortstop Sunday in Walls' place, but he was scratched after experiencing left calf tightness leading up to opening pitch. Amed Rosario is now set to operate as the Rays' shortstop in the series finale in Atlanta.
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Taylor Walls SS | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Sitting in second straight game
Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
The switch-hitting Walls is sitting against a right-handed starting pitcher (Hurston Waldrep) for the second day in a row, perhaps hinting that he hasn't quite locked down an everyday role at shortstop since his return from the injured list June 7. Walls had started in six of the Rays' ensuing eight games following his reinstatement, but he went just 2-for-18 with three walks against 10 strikeouts during that stretch. Jose Caballero (calf) and Amed Rosario look to be Walls' main threats for playing time at shortstop.
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Lenyn Sosa 3B | CHW
White Sox's Lenyn Sosa: Clubs three-run homer
Sosa went 3-for-5 with a double and a three-run home run in Saturday's win over Arizona.
Sosa singled in his third trip to the plate and was later thrown out at home on a fielder's choice. However, he came right back with a two-out, three-run home run in the following inning to increase the White Sox's lead to five runs while also adding a double in the ninth. It marked the third baseman's first three-hit performance of the season and his fifth multi-hit effort this month, during which he's batting .333 with two homers and seven RBI.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Continuing ramp-up process
Angels manager Ron Washington said Tuesday that Rendon (hamstring) was scheduled to field more grounders to his left and right this week before resuming running drills, MLB.com reports.
It's not clear how Rendon responded to incorporating more lateral movement into his fielding work, but the 34-year-old generally looks to be trending in the right direction as he works his way back from the left hamstring strain that has kept him out since April 20. He remains without a clear target date for a return from the 60-day IL, but if he's able to increase his running work in the coming days, the Angels could begin the process of outlining a minor-league rehab assignment for the veteran third baseman.
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Josh Rojas 3B | SEA
Mariners' Josh Rojas: Strong showing in win
Rojas went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks, three RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Rangers.
Rojas went 2-for-27 (.074) over his previous 10 games before breaking out of the slump in a big way. He hit a solo shot in the seventh inning and a two-run single in the eighth, providing the Mariners with enough of a cushion to survive the Rangers' late comeback. The homer was Rojas' first since April 28 and his fourth of the season to go with 15 RBI, 26 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .263/.336/.395 slash line over 61 contests. He continues to play in a strong-side platoon role at third base.
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Matt Vierling CF | DET
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Goes deep in win
Vierling went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 13-5 win over the Astros.
Vierling has homered twice over his last four contests, though both were solo shots that represent his only RBI since May 29. The outfielder is batting a modest .196 (10-for-51) over 12 contests in June, though he's still often hitting in the top third of the Tigers' lineup. Vierling is at a .266/.305/.468 slash line with nine homers, 30 RBI, 30 runs scored, nine doubles, four triples and no stolen bases through 63 games this year.
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Josh H. Smith 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Remains out Saturday
Smith (undisclosed) is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith will miss a second straight game as he nurses "general tightness." Ezequiel Duran will draw the start at third base while Robbie Grossman enters the lineup at designated hitter and bats seventh against Seattle.
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Taylor Walls SS | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Sitting Saturday
Walls is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against Atlanta.
Walls will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's series opener. Amed Rosario will draw the start at shortstop and bat seventh versus Atlanta.