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Nick Gonzales 3B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Available off bench
Gonzales (face) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox.
Gonzales will begin Saturday's contest on the bench after taking a pitch off his head Friday, but the team confirmed before the game that he's been cleared for activity and will be available to play if needed, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jared Triolo steps in at third base, batting ninth.
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Javier Sanoja 3B | MIA
Marlins' Javier Sanoja: On bench Saturday
Sanoja isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Reds.
Sanoja previously held an eight-game hitting streak, but he'll now move to the bench after going 0-for-6 across his last two games. Graham Pauley will fill in as Miami's third baseman and bat eighth.
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Cesar Prieto 3B | STL
Cardinals' Cesar Prieto: Relegated to Triple-A
The Cardinals optioned Prieto to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Prieto boasts an .890 OPS across 300 plate appearances in the minors this season, but he's gone just 1-for-31 at the plate with the parent club. He'll now return to Memphis to rediscover his swing, clearing room on the active roster for top prospect Joshua Baez.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Expected back Saturday
Ramirez will return to the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday as part of planned maintenance since he returned from a hamate injury, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Ramirez bypassed a rehab assignment and returned directly from the injured list to the Guardians' roster July 22. Manager Stephen Vogt knew he would need to be mindful of how much Ramirez plays and when. The third baseman has started 16 of 21 games and posted a .197/.333/.197 slash line since his return .
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Miguel Vargas 3B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: Goes yard twice against Detroit
Vargas went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs, three RBI and an additional run scored during the White Sox's 9-5 win over the Tigers on Friday.
Vargas set a season high in hits Friday and matched his career best. It was also his third multi-homer game of this season and brought him up to 27 on the year, tied with teammate Munetaka Murakami for fourth most in the American League. Vargas is enjoying a career year, boasting a .829 OPS with 12 steals, 71 RBI and 55 extra-base hits across 523 plate appearances.
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Blaze Alexander 3B | BAL
Orioles' Blaze Alexander: Hits in cage for first time
Alexander (hand) hit in the batting cage Friday, per MLB.com.
It's the first time Alexander has done so amid his recovery from a fractured left hand. The utility player has been on the injured list since mid-July, but he appears to be trending toward a return to the Orioles at some point in late August or early September.
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Nick Gonzales 3B | PIT
Pirates' Nick Gonzales: Exits after HBP
Gonzales was removed from Friday's game against the Red Sox after getting hit on the head by a pitch.
Gonzales was taken out of the game immediately after taking a 94-mph fastball off his helmet in the fifth inning. He's been diagnosed with a facial contusion and is considered day-to-day by the team. Jared Triolo would likely be next in line to start at third base if Gonzales has to miss extra time.
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Cesar Prieto 3B | STL
Cardinals' Cesar Prieto: Likely to be sent down to Triple-A
Prieto is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The move will make room on the active roster for Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez, who will make his major-league debut against the Cubs on Saturday. Prieto was brought up from Triple-A on Aug. 4 but has gone 1-for-11 in five games since his promotion to the big leagues. He's been utilized as a depth piece in the infield but will see regular playing time in the minors.
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Luke Hill 3B | CLE
Guardians' Luke Hill: Back from IL
Hill (oblique) was activated from the 7-day injured list at Double-A Akron on Friday.
Hill hasn't played since June 24 due to a strained oblique. The 22-year-old has slashed .257/.390/.524 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI, 43 runs scored, nine stolen bases and a 40:49 BB:K across 237 plate appearances between High-A Lake County and Akron this season.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Out of lineup Friday
Ramirez is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres.
Angel Genao is starting at third base and batting sixth, while Steven Kwan is leading off as the Guardians' designated hitter. In 17 games since returning from the injured list, Ramirez is slashing .197/.333/.197 with zero extra-base hits, four RBI, 11 runs scored, five stolen bases and a 12:3 BB:K across 75 plate appearances.