MLB Player News
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Giants' Matt Chapman: Suspension appeal successful
Chapman's appeal of his one-game suspension is successful, and he will no longer have to serve the punishment, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Chapman received a suspension from MLB for pushing Kyle Freeland in a matchup with the Rockies in early September, but he'll have the suspension dropped after a successful appeal. The third baseman will take a seven-game hit streak into Friday's series opener against the Dodgers.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Kicking off rehab assignment
Westburg (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
It will be Westburg's first game action since he sprained his right ankle Aug. 18. Barring any setbacks, he should be ready to return to the Orioles' active roster sometime next week. Emmanuel Rivera has been filling in at third base of late for the O's with Westburg sidelined.
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Zach McKinstry 3B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Back in starting nine
McKinstry (back) will start at third base and bat eighth in Friday's game against the Marlins.
McKinstry missed each of the previous three contests with a back issue, but he's ready to give it a go in Friday's series opener. With McKinstry handling third base, Colt Keith will be used in the designated-hitter slot.
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Addison Barger SS | TOR
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Out of Toronto lineup
Barger is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Orioles.
The Blue Jays haven't faced many left-handers lately, but the left-handed-hitting Barger has been out of the lineup each of the last three times they've gone up against a southpaw. George Springer will be in right field and Ernie Clement will play third base Friday versus Trevor Rogers and the Orioles.
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Eric Bitonti 3B | MIL
Brewers' Eric Bitonti: Flirts with 20 homers
Bitonti slashed .238/.341/.421 with 19 home runs, 17 steals, a 13.5 percent walk rate and a 33.5 percent strikeout rate in 118 games for Single-A Carolina.
Drafted out of high school in 2023 as a shortstop, Bitonti has already slid to the bottom of the defensive spectrum, playing 900.1 innings at first base and five innings at third base this year for the Mudcats. That won't be a problem if he can make enough contact, as Bitonti has consistently shown impressive raw power and patience for his age -- he won't turn 20 until November. It's unlikely the lefty-hitting Bitonti would be allowed to face same-handed pitching in the majors, but there's a chance he could be a three-true outcomes slugger who hits in the middle of the lineup against righties. The Brewers have a loaded farm system, and first base is particularly crowded, with Andrew Fischer, Brock Wilken, Blake Burke and Luke Adams all representing legitimate first base prospects who are closer to the majors than Bitonti.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Back in lineup Friday
Shaw (personal) will start at third base and bat ninth in Friday's game versus the Rays.
Shaw had to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup against Atlanta due to personal reasons, but he appeared as a pinch hitter in that contest and is back in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Rays. The rookie infielder had a great start to the second half but has slowed down in recent weeks, slashing .212/.276/.269 with no home runs over his last 19 games.
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Miguel Vargas 2B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Second straight start since return
Vargas went 0-for-2 with a run scored, a walk and a stolen base Thursday against the Rays.
Vargas started his second consecutive game at third base since being activated from the injured list Wednesday, while hitting sixth and fifth in the order. He's reached base and scored in both contests, and he also swiped his fifth base of the season Thursday. Vargas will look to keep the strong close to his season going, as he's hit .277 with four home runs, 17 RBI and 27 runs scored across 112 at-bats since the All-Star break.
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Otto Kemp 3B | PHI
Phillies' Otto Kemp: Launches sixth homer in win
Kemp went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in a 6-4 win over the Mets on Thursday.
Kemp smashed his sixth homer of the year, tying a season high in RBI as well. As long as Alec Bohm (shoulder) remains on the injured list, Kemp should remain Philadelphia's primary third baseman. Through the first 158 at-bats of his career, Kemp is batting .241 with eight doubles, 22 RBI, 21 runs scored and two stolen bases.
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Zach McKinstry 3B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Sitting again Thursday
McKinstry (back) isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.
McKinstry will miss a third consecutive start due to a back issue that flared up shortly before Tuesday's contest. Javier Baez will pick up a start at shortstop and bat ninth while McKinstry recovers.
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Cam Collier 3B | CIN
Reds' Cam Collier: Power sapped at Double-A
Collier is slashing .342/.435/.430 with one home run, four doubles, a 14.1 percent walk rate and an 18.5 percent strikeout rate in his last 21 games for Double-A Chattanooga.
Collier, who underwent left thumb surgery in mid-March, was activated June 3 for High-A Dayton and then quickly promoted to Chattanooga, as he had already mastered High-A to close 2024. The thumb issue appears to have sapped Collier's power this season, as he hit 20 homers in 119 games last year and has three homers in 92 games this year, with just one of those coming in 71 games at Double-A. Given that Collier's plate skills have improved as the season has gone on, and that he has shown plus raw power as a teenager in the past, he's a worthwhile buy-low target this offseason. The lefty-hitting first baseman should split his age-21 season between Double-A and Triple-A.