MLB Player News
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Takes over at second base
Espinal entered Saturday's 10-6 win over the Marlins to play second base after Jonathan India (knee) was removed from the game in the top of the fourth inning. Espinal finished 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI.
India sustained a left knee contusion on a steal attempt during the second frame and remained in the game for one more inning before his removal. He was scratched from a game earlier this week due to the same injury. The Reds may opt to have India sit on Sunday, the final game before the All-Star break. Miami is scheduled to start a lefty (Trevor Rogers), so the right-handed-hitting Espinal is likely to play in some capacity even if India is available.
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Eugenio Suarez 3B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez: Slugs 10th homer
Suarez went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 12-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Suarez got Arizona to double digits with his eighth-inning blast. The third baseman's bat has come alive in July with four homers and 12 RBI over his last seven contests. For the season, he's maintained a .211/.298/.363 line with 10 long balls, 46 RBI, 38 runs scored and two stolen bases over 92 games.
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Jake Burger 3B | TEX
Marlins' Jake Burger: Four hits, four RBI against Reds
Burger went 4-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Reds.
Burger and Josh Bell went back-to-back against lefty Andrew Abbott in the third inning. It was Burger's 10th home run this season, and he would go on to add three singles in his next three plate appearances. The 28-year-old Burger is batting just .225 with a .633 OPS this season, but his power and locked-in playing time keep him relevant.
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Jeimer Candelario 3B | NYY
Reds' Jeimer Candelario: Goes deep early
Candelario went 2-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-4 win over Miami.
Candelario hit the second of two first-inning solo homers, as the Reds jumped out to an early 7-0 lead through three innings and cruised from there. The home run was the 15th this season for Candelario, who extended an on-base streak to 12 contests.
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Vinny Capra SS | CHW
Brewers' Vinny Capra: Optioned to Nashville
The Brewers optioned Capra to Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
The move makes room on the 26-man roster for Joey Ortiz (neck), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Capra started in two of three games for the Brewers after being called up from Nashville on July 3, going 1-for-9 with one run and three strikeouts.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Returns from IL
The Brewers reinstated Ortiz (neck) from the 10-day injured list Friday.
Neck inflammation has plagued Ortiz since late June, though he didn't land on the injured list until July 3. He went 0-for-2 with a walk during his lone rehab game with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday and will now reclaim his role as Milwaukee's everyday third baseman. Vinny Capra was optioned to Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Not returning until at least August
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Muncy (oblique) is still not swinging a bat and is unlikely to return to the team until at least August, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Muncy has been on the injured list since May 17 due to a right oblique strain. He began ramping up his rehab program in late June by taking swings off a tee and fielding groundballs, but he was shut down from swinging a bat last week. Prior to his injury, Muncy was slashing .223/.323/.475 with nine home runs and 28 RBI over 167 plate appearances. The Dodgers will continue to rotate Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernandez and Cavan Biggio at the hot corner while Muncy remains sidelined, though the team could attempt to acquire a full-time option at the trade deadline.
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Eugenio Suarez 3B | SEA
Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez: Homers again
Suarez went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 1-0 win over Atlanta.
Suarez provided the game's only offense with a solo shot in the fifth inning. It was the second consecutive game with a home run for Suarez, who's hit three over the last five games and is 15-for-49 (.306) with eight extra-base hits and 13 RBI over the last 15 contests. It might be a good time to buy low on the third baseman; Suarez's first three months (.591 OPS) have been well below his career norm (.756).
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Homers in win
Espinal went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Thursday's 8-1 win over Colorado.
Espinal got the start at shortstop, giving Elly De La Cruz a breather, and belted his fourth home run of the season. It was his third straight start after he filled in at second base for Jonathan India, who battled knee soreness the previous two games. Espinal has hit safely in four straight, going 6-for-12 and bumping his average to .203 for the season.
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Giants' Matt Chapman: Goes deep late in loss
Chapman went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 10-6 loss to the Blue Jays.
Chapman hit one of two homers for the Giants in the ninth inning, but it was too late to generate a comeback. The third baseman has gone deep five times and added 13 RBI over his last 15 contests, a span in which he's batting .298 (17-for-57). For the year, he's up to 13 long balls, 43 RBI, 60 runs scored, 24 doubles, eight stolen bases and a .231/.322/.423 slash line through 90 games.