MLB Player News
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Giants' Matt Chapman: Multi-hit effort in win
Chapman went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Padres.
The third baseman singled in the third inning, then stole second and subsequently came around to score on a ground-rule double by Dominic Smith. Chapman added another single in the fifth, marking his fourth multi-hit performance in his last eight games. He's batting .429 with four runs scored, three RBI, three doubles and two home runs across 33 plate appearances during that span.
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Maikel Garcia 3B | KC
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Big performance in nightcap
Garcia went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two walks, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored in a 7-5 win over the Cardinals in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader.
Garcia rattled off a 14-game hitting streak from May 14-30, but a thumb issue has hampered him slightly to begin June. The utility player went 0-for-5 in the day game, but he was a big performer in the nightcap while snagging a rare start in center field rather than at his usual third base. For the season, he's hitting .311 with an .852 OPS, five home runs, 13 steals on 20 attempts, 29 RBI, 28 runs scored, 15 doubles and two triples over 61 contests. Power isn't a huge part of his game, but he's on pace for double-digit homers and can make an impact with speed and by getting on base at a high rate.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Big effort in win
Shaw went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Nationals. He also stole two bases.
Shaw was electric from the No. 8 spot in the order as he snapped a 1-for-13 slump that stretched across his previous four games. This was the rookie's second career game with three hits. It was also his second career game with multiple stolen bases, and he now has seven steals for the season in as many attempts. Shaw remains a work in progress at the plate, but his ability on the bases is giving his fantasy value a boost, and he has the potential to do even more with the bat as he gets more comfortable against MLB pitching.
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Zach McKinstry 3B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Swipes bag in loss
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Thursday's 3-2, extra-inning loss to the White Sox. He also stole a base.
McKinstry continues to produce for the Tigers with hits in four of his last five games and a .271 average for the season. The utility man is also up to four stolen bases, and after recording 16 steals each of the last two years, he could start running more moving forward. McKinstry isn't the most exciting player, but his versatility and steady production is getting him into the lineup most days.
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Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Homers in loss
Riley went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 11-10 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Riley laced an RBI single and then came around in the score in the first inning before adding a solo home run in the fifth. Over his past 10 games, the third baseman has hit safely eight times with three homers, seven RBI and eight runs scored. For the season, he's slashing .273/.330/.446 with 11 long balls, 35 RBI, 33 runs scored and two steals across 270 plate appearances.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Will play another rehab game
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that Westburg (hamstring) will play another rehab game with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Westburg was set to be re-evaluated after Wednesday's game with Norfolk, and the decision has been made to give him another contest as the club's designated hitter Thursday. He will continue to be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, with a return to the Orioles' active roster considered imminent. Westburg has been shelved since late April with a strained left hamstring.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Idle for series finale
Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.
The Dodgers and Mets are wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game, and southpaw David Peterson is on the hill for New York, so the left-handed-hitting Muncy will get the afternoon off. Miguel Rojas will check in at third base in place of Muncy, who went 7-for-19 with five home runs, three walks, 11 RBI and six runs while starting in each of the past five contests.
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CJ Alexander 3B | LAD
Athletics' CJ Alexander: Loses 40-man spot
The Athletics designated Alexander for assignment Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
After the Athletics optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, Alexander will now be pushed off the 40-man roster a day later with the organization needing to free up a spot for right-hander Michael Kelly (suspension), who was reinstated from the ineligible list. Alexander offers some defensive versatility and has slashed .252/.350/.516 over 180 plate appearances with Las Vegas this season, but since he's an older prospect (28 years old) with a limited track record at the big-league level, it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up clearing waivers.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Absent from Minnesota lineup
Lewis is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Athletics.
Lewis has logged consecutive games with a hit for the first time since May 18 and 19, but he will get a breather in Thursday's series finale. Willi Castro will start at third base and bat fifth as the Twins try to complete a four-game sweep.