MLB Player News
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Jon Berti 3B | CHC
Cubs' Jon Berti: Time as primary 3B over
Berti remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Berti had already been left out of the lineup in the Cubs' previous two contests, but the promotion of prospect Matt Shaw from Triple-A Iowa on Monday erases any doubt that Berti's time as Chicago's primary third baseman is over. The 35-year-old has produced a .213/.272/.240 slash line over 81 plate appearances on the season and has provided most of his limited fantasy utility on the bases (seven steals in eight attempts) rather than with the bat. He was miscast as an everyday player but should bring value off the bench as a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement.
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Vidal Brujan 2B | ATL
Cubs' Vidal Brujan: Heading back to bench
Brujan is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Brujan went 3-for-7 with two RBI and a run while starting at third base in both of the Cubs' last two games, but both he and Jon Berti will be in store for more limited playing time at the hot corner moving forward after Chicago recalled Matt Shaw from Triple-A Iowa on Monday. Since returning from the injured list April 15, Brujan has logged just 17 total plate appearances in 16 games.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | ARI
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Dropped to sixth Monday
Arenado will start at third base and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Tigers.
Arenado is in a 3-for-25 rut at the plate, which has dropped his season batting line to .247/.323/.380. As a result of his ongoing struggles, Arenado will be dropped from the cleanup spot for the first time all season. Willson Contreras will hit fourth for the Cardinals on Monday, while Ivan Herrera will bat fifth.
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Nicky Lopez 3B | ARI
Cubs' Nicky Lopez: Booted from 40-man roster
The Cubs designated Lopez for assignment Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The club needed to free a spot on the active roster for Matt Shaw, and Lopez is the casualty. Lopez is just 1-for-24 at the plate this season and is likely to pass through waivers unclaimed, but his solid glovework and defensive versatility should help land him a minor-league contract somewhere.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Officially recalled to majors
The Cubs recalled Shaw from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Shaw earned another shot with the big club after putting up a .970 OPS, six home runs, five steals and an 11:17 K:BB over 24 contests. He slashed only .172/.294/.241 across 68 plate appearances in his first stint in the majors, but the Cubs seem more confident that Shaw will fare better against big-league pitching this time around. Shaw will take over as the Cubs' primary third baseman, with Jon Berti shifting to a utility role.
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Cam Collier 3B | CIN
Reds' Cam Collier: Trending toward June debut
Collier (thumb) is in the midst of a hitting progression and appears on track to be activated from High-A Dayton's 60-day injured list at some point in June, MLB.com reports.
Collier has been on the shelf all season after suffering a torn UCL in his left thumb March 13 and requiring surgery. Regarded as one of the top prospects in Cincinnati's system, Collier slashed .248/.355/.443 with 20 home runs over 119 games with Dayton a season ago.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Promotion to big club coming
The Cubs are expected to recall Shaw from Triple-A Iowa prior to Monday's game in Miami, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Shaw was demoted in mid-April after slashing only .172/.294/.241 across 68 plate appearances, but he got back on track at Iowa with a .970 OPS, six home runs, five steals and an 11:17 K:BB over 24 contests. He will get another shot at being the Cubs' everyday third baseman, while Jon Berti transitions back into a utility role.
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Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Tallies three hits in win
Riley went 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Red Sox.
Riley was a thorn in Boston's side Sunday, tying the game with an RBI single in the fourth inning while scoring runs in the first and eighth frames. The third baseman is slashing an impressive .300/.355/.429 in May, though he hasn't homered since going deep twice May 4. On the year, he sports a .287/.335/.451 slash with eight home runs, 28 RBI, 23 runs scored and two steals across 209 plate appearances.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Resting Sunday
Muncy isn't part of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
After making four straight starts at third base, Muncy will get a breather for Sunday's series finale against the Angels. In his place, Enrique Hernandez will bat seventh and play third base.
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Snaps RBI drought
Espinal went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 4-1 win over Cleveland.
Espinal entered the contest batting .118 (4-for-34) with zero RBI over the previous nine contests. He's been the regular starter at third base since Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Marte's healing is going better than expected, per MLB.com, but he still has a way to go before returning. That means Espinal should continue to receive consistent playing time for at least the next two weeks.