MLB Player News
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Matt Vierling RF | DET
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Goes deep in win
Vierling went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 13-5 win over the Astros.
Vierling has homered twice over his last four contests, though both were solo shots that represent his only RBI since May 29. The outfielder is batting a modest .196 (10-for-51) over 12 contests in June, though he's still often hitting in the top third of the Tigers' lineup. Vierling is at a .266/.305/.468 slash line with nine homers, 30 RBI, 30 runs scored, nine doubles, four triples and no stolen bases through 63 games this year.
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Joseph Ortiz 2B | MIL
Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Delivers big blast in victory
Ortiz went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Saturday in a 3-1 win against Cincinnati.
All of Milwaukee's runs in the contest came on Ortiz's fifth-inning homer off Reds starter Andrew Abbott. The long ball was Ortiz's first since May 17 -- a span of 24 games. Power isn't a big part of Ortiz's profile, but he's proven plenty capable with the bat in his first full season in the majors, slashing .281/.381/.472 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 26 runs, four stolen bases and a 28:31 BB:K through 211 plate appearances.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Not close to returning
Muncy (oblique) is at least a week away from swinging a bat and doesn't have a timeline for return, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Muncy's recovery from a right oblique strain has been unexpectedly slow, and he doesn't seem particularly close to returning. The 33-year-old hasn't swung a bat in a few weeks and won't be cleared for swings for at least another week. Cavan Biggio and Enrique Hernandez should handle most of the work at third base until Muncy returns.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Remains out Saturday
Smith (undisclosed) is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Smith will miss a second straight game as he nurses "general tightness." Ezequiel Duran will draw the start at third base while Robbie Grossman enters the lineup at designated hitter and bats seventh against Seattle.
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Taylor Walls 3B | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Sitting Saturday
Walls is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against Atlanta.
Walls will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's series opener. Amed Rosario will draw the start at shortstop and bat seventh versus Atlanta.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Goes on paternity leave
The Guardians placed Ramirez on the paternity list Saturday.
Ramirez will likely miss his team's remaining two games this weekend in Toronto before rejoining them for the start of a homestand Tuesday following Monday's scheduled off day. Johnathan Rodriguez is taking Ramirez's roster spot and Daniel Schneemann is getting a start at third base Saturday versus the Blue Jays.
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Gio Urshela 3B | MIN
Tigers' Gio Urshela: Sitting Saturday
Urshela is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Astros, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Urshela will get a day off after he went 9-for-27 with a double, five RBI and two run scored while starting the last eight contests. Matt Vierling will slot in at third base while Akil Baddoo enters the lineup in left field and bats eighth against Houston.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Swipes fifth bag
Hayes went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Friday against the Rockies.
Hayes hasn't hit well across 13 games since returning from a back injury, as he's maintained only a .240 average with one extra-base hit. However, he has shown the desire to steal bases by recording all five of his thefts on the season since his return.
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Jeimer Candelario 3B | LAA
Reds' Jeimer Candelario: Heating up
Candelario went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Friday's 6-5 win over the Brewers.
Candelario belted a two-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Reds overcome a sloppy day in the field (five errors) and on the mound (eight walks). The home run was his third in the last two games and sixth during the month of June. After an inconsistent first two months, Candelario's bat is heating up this month. He's batting .346 (18-for-52) with nine extra-base hits, 13 RBI, two steals and eight runs over 12 contests.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Experiencing general tightness
Smith was not in the starting lineup Friday due to what manager Bruce Bochy referred to as "general tightness," Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
It's the same condition that led to Smith being held out of Tuesday's starting lineup. He eventually entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter, popping out in the ninth inning. With Corey Seager not playing the field yet as he battles a hamstring issue, Ezequiel Duran started at shortstop.