MLB Player News
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Connor Norby 2B | MIA
Marlins' Connor Norby: Two more hits Monday
Norby went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Monday's extra-innings loss to the Padres.
The 24-year-old infielder has caught fire in the second half of May, hitting safely in 10 straight starts while batting .378 (14-for-37) with three doubles, a homer, three runs and nine RBI. The surge has pushed Norby's slash line on the season to .294/.333/.454, as he begins to deliver on the promise he showed as an Orioles prospect prior to being traded south last July.
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Ildemaro Vargas 3B | ARI
Ildemaro Vargas: Headed for free agency
Vargas opted out of his minor-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday and became a free agent, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Vargas had attended spring training with Arizona as a non-roster invitee before reporting to Triple-A Reno after being informed that he wouldn't be included on the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster. Despite producing a respectable .261/.330/.397 slash line to go with five home runs and four steals over his 221 plate appearances at Reno, Vargas was passed over for a promotion to the big club in favor of younger options in Tim Tawa and Jordan Lawlar when the Diamondbacks had needs for utility infielders. The 33-year-old Vargas shouldn't have too much difficulty landing a minor-league deal elsewhere with an organization that can present him with a clearer path to getting another look in the majors at some point later on this season.
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: Enters as pinch hitter
Espinal went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI in Monday's 7-4 win over Kansas City.
Espinal, who has been the primary third baseman since Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list, opened Monday's game on the bench while Gavin Lux started at the hot corner. Espinal eventually entered as a pinch hitter, finished the game at third base, and delivered a pair of hits including a run-scoring double in the eighth inning. He entered the game batting .169 (11-for-65) with one RBI over his last 17 games.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Homers again Monday
Machado went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 4-3 extra-innings win over the Marlins.
Machado has six homers on the year, three of which he's hit over the last four games. The third baseman looks to be finding his power after hitting for a high average and little else in the early going. He's on a four-game RBI streak and has four multi-hit efforts across his last six contests. Machado is up to a .319/.391/.497 slash line through 52 games this season. He's added 24 RBI, 37 runs scored, 16 doubles and seven stolen bases.
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Eugenio Suarez 3B | CIN
Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez: Clubs 15th homer
Suarez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Monday's 5-0 win over the Pirates.
Suarez looks to be heating up again. He's hit safely in nine of his last 11 games, going 14-for-41 (.341) with three homers and 13 RBI in that stretch. His long ball Monday, which stretched Arizona's lead to 3-0 in the third inning, was his 15th homer of the year. He's added a .232/.315/.515 slash line, 41 RBI, 34 runs scored, 10 doubles and a stolen base over 54 contests, numbers that are largely in line with his usual rate of production.
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Luis Rengifo 3B | LAA
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Out of Monday's lineup
Rengifo is not in the Angels' starting lineup against the Yankees on Monday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Rengifo -- who went 2-for-10 with an RBI during the Angels' three-game weekend series against the Marlins -- will begin Monday's game in the dugout while Kevin Newman starts at second base and bats ninth. Rengifo has a .472 OPS with one steal and four RBI in 66 plate appearances since the beginning of May.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | ARI
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Expects to play Tuesday
Arenado (rib) expects to return to the lineup Tuesday against the Orioles, John Denton of MLB.com reports. "Overall, I feel OK," Arenado said Monday after falling into the crowd while making a catch during Sunday's game. "Should be fine by [Tuesday], just kind of stiff today. So, I'm just going to get some treatment and then go from there."
The 10-time Gold Glover is dealing with some soreness in his rib/kidney region, but it sounds like he's expecting a quick turnaround. Nolan Gorman is starting at third base Monday against right-hander Charlie Morton.
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Mark Vientos DH | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Not included in starting nine
Vientos is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.
Vientos was held out of the starting lineup Friday and Saturday due to abdominal soreness before returning Sunday. There has been nothing yet to suggest Monday's absence is directly related to the abdominal issue, though the team is likely being cautious coming off the injury. Recent call-up Jared Young is starting at DH with Brett Baty at third against right-hander Adrian Houser.
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Santiago Espinal 3B | CIN
Reds' Santiago Espinal: On bench for series opener
Espinal is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
Espinal has been a regular in the lineup at third base -- and in the two hole -- for Cincinnati since Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the injured list. However, Espinal's bat has gone cold, as he's just 11-for-65 (.169 average) with two extra-base hits (both doubles) in his last 17 games. The 30-year-old longtime utility man will sit Monday in favor of Garrett Hampson, who will be making his first start in a Reds uniform.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Continues hot stretch with two XBH
Machado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a double in Sunday's 5-3 win against Atlanta.
Machado scored the first run of the game after doubling in the first inning and added a 352-foot solo shot in the eighth frame. After battling through an 0-for-15, four-game stretch in mid-May, the veteran third baseman has bounced back with four multi-hit efforts in his past five contests. During that span, Machado has collected two homers and two doubles along with three RBI while going 8-for-19.