MLB Player News
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Explodes in victory
Muncy went 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple, three RBI and a walk to help the Dodgers to a 10-6 victory over the Rockies on Friday.
Muncy had a monster day at the dish against Colorado, as he fell a double short of the cycle. It was a welcome showing for the 28-year-old, who was off to a slow start to the season coming off last year's breakout 35-homer campaign. With this performance, he bumped his slugging percentage up to a healthy .542 through 24 at-bats.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Reaches base four times
Machado went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run in San Diego's 5-3 win over the Cardinals on Friday.
Machado reached base in his first four appearances before grounding out in his last at-bat to snap a streak of seven straight trips to the plate where he got on base. He's the first Padres to achieve that feat since Jose Pirela in 2017, per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union Tribune. Machado only has one home run through his first eight games, but he's now got a .394 on-base percentage, and the patient approach is a good sign he's seeing the ball well as he looks to consistently find his power stroke.
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Ildemaro Vargas 1B | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Returns to big leagues
Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
The 27-year-old was sent to the minors on Monday but is able to make a quick return with Jake Lamb (quadriceps) headed to the injured list. Vargas went 1-for-6 with a double and a run scored and should serve as a reserve infielder.
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Kevin Newman 3B | LAA
Pirates' Kevin Newman: Starts against Reds
Newman made his first start of the season at shortstop Thursday, going 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout.
Fellow shortstop Erik Gonzalez has started four of the team's first five games, keeping Newman mostly tied to the bench. Gonzalez's play has been up and down, however, and Newman could work his way into the mix. The 2015 first-round pick has also practiced with the outfielders, a move that could increase his versatility.
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Drew Robinson 3B | TEX
Cardinals' Drew Robinson: Heading to minors
Robinson was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The 26-year-old was able to crack the Opening Day roster as Jedd Gyorko (calf) started the season on the injured list, and Gyorko's return Friday spelled an end to this big-league stint. Robinson appeared solely as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-3 with one strikeout through the first six games of the year.
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Anthony Rendon 3B | LAA
Nationals' Anthony Rendon: Riding homer streak
Rendon went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk, a double and a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-8 win over the Phillies.
Rendon now has a home run in two straight games after hitting his first blast of the season in Tuesday's loss. The 28-year-old went 0-for-4 in the season opener but since has four straight multi-hit games with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in that stretch.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Hits first Padres homer
Machado went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, a pair of walks and two runs scored to help the Padres to a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Machado was off to a bit of a slow start to his Padres tenure, with five hits in his first 23 at-bats, but he broke out in this one, turning on a pitch from Matt Andriese for a long two-run shot in the seventh inning for his first homer of the season. It was only a matter of time for the star third baseman, who is one of the premier offensive forces in baseball when he's locked in at the dish.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Hits bench against lefty
Muncy is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Giants, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Muncy will give way to David Freese at first base Wednesday with a left-hander in Derek Holland getting the ball first for the Giants. The 28-year-old is off to a slow start to the season, going 2-for-20 with a homer and four RBI through six games.
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Carter Kieboom 3B | CLE
Nationals' Carter Kieboom: Won't get call to replace Turner
General manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that Kieboom won't be promoted from Triple-A Fresno to help the Nationals while Trea Turner (finger) is on the injured list, Byron Kerr of MASN Sports reports.
Turner is out indefinitely due to the non-displaced fracture of the index finger on his right (throwing) hand, leaving the team without its everyday shortstop and No. 2 hitter for an extended period of time. Though Kieboom's blend of contact skills and pop would likely make him the best replacement option for Turner from an offensive standpoint, the organization wants to work on his defense at both middle-infield spots at Fresno before he gets the call to the big leagues. As a result, the Nationals will cast their lot at shortstop with Wilmer Difo for now, while Adrian Sanchez will handle the super-utility role that Difo previously filled.
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Eduardo Escobar 3B | TOR
Diamondbacks' Eduardo Escobar: Drops to fifth in order
Escobar is starting at second base and hitting fifth Wednesday against the Padres.
Escobar is off to a slow start to the season, going 3-for-25 (.120) through six games. As such, he'll swap places in the lineup with Ketel Marte -- who is 7-for-14 with a pair of extra-base hits and a pair of stolen bases over his last three games -- for Wednesday's series finale.