MLB Player News
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Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Scratched from lineup Friday
Devers was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against Seattle due to left shoulder soreness, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Devers was previously set to start at third base and bat second. Whether the absence will extend beyond Friday remains to be seen. With Devers out, Bobby Dalbec will start at third base, while Tyler O'Neill will move from fifth to second in the batting order between Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida.
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Jonah Bride 3B | TEX
Marlins' Jonah Bride: Gets start against lefty
Bride is starting at third base and batting eighth in Friday's game versus the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Bride was a late addition to the Opening Day roster after the Marlins traded Jon Berti, and he winds up getting a start in the club's second game against left-hander Martin Perez. Jake Burger is sliding over to first base and Josh Bell will be the designated hitter.
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Andruw Monasterio SS | BOS
Brewers' Andruw Monasterio: Handling third base in opener
Monasterio is starting at third base and batting ninth in Friday's opener against the Mets.
The 26-year-old is part of a lineup loaded with righties and switch hitters versus southpaw Jose Quintana. Monasterio slashed .291/.387/.392 against left-handers last season.
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Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Swats Opening Day homer
Devers went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and two total RBI in Thursday's 6-4 victory versus Seattle.
Devers put Boston's first runs of the season on the board in the third inning with his 400-foot, two-run homer off Mariners ace Luis Castillo. The third baseman is off to a strong start to the campaign as he seeks to build upon the 33-homer, 100-RBI performance he posted last year. Devers is one of the most reliable third baseman in fantasy after averaging 33 long balls, 100 RBI and 150 games played over the past three campaigns.
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Maikel Garcia 3B | KC
Royals' Maikel Garcia: Hits leadoff home run
Garcia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout during Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Twins.
Garcia's home run came on the third pitch he saw, leading off the bottom of the first with a blast over the left-field wall. His homer was the only blemish on Pablo Lopez's line as the Twins hurler otherwise shut the door on Garcia and the rest of the Royals lineup. The third baseman parlayed a strong spring into a leadoff role and began the season with a long ball after hitting just four last season over 464 at-bats.
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Nick Senzel 3B | LAD
Nationals' Nick Senzel: Out 3-to-4 weeks
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Senzel is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks after fracturing his right thumb in during batting practice prior to Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Reds, the Associated Press reports.
Senzel was slated to start at third base and bat eighth in the season opener, but he was scratched from the lineup after suffering the injury when his throwing hand was struck by an errant groundball when one of his teammates was taking BP. Ildemaro Vargas drew the start at third base Thursday, but Vargas could end up moving back into a utility role while the Nationals give a longer look at prospect Trey Lipscomb at the hot corner during Senzel's upcoming absence. Andrew Golden of The Washington Post notes that Lipscomb is set to receive a call-up from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Saturday's game in Cincinnati, with Senzel presumably going on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Marlins' Jake Burger: Three-hit start to season
Burger went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in Thursday's Opening Day loss to the Pirates.
Burger added a sacrifice fly that gave the Marlins a 5-2 lead in the fifth, but that was the last run Miami would score as the Pirates clawed back to steal the win. It was a good start to the season for the 27-year-old, who hit 34 home runs last season split between the Marlins and White Sox. Burger will man the everyday role at third base for the Marlins this season.
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Patrick Wisdom 3B | SEA
Cubs' Patrick Wisdom: Goes on IL
The Cubs placed Wisdom (back) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
According to MLB.com , manager Craig Counsell said Wisdom was able to resume baseball activities before spring training came to a close, so the veteran corner infielder might not be too far away from starting a minor-league rehab assignment. Counsell said he expects Wisdom to return from the IL around mid-April.
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Royce Lewis 3B | MIN
Twins' Royce Lewis: Awaiting MRI results
Lewis (quadriceps) underwent an MRI and is awaiting results after exiting Thursday's game against the Royals, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Lewis was forced to exit the game after injuring himself running the bases in the third inning. He described the issue as feeling like a cramp, though nothing official has been announced. Lewis' status will become clearer once the results of the MRI are known.
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Nick Senzel 3B | LAD
Nationals' Nick Senzel: Suffers broken thumb
Senzel broke his thumb while fielding a groundball before Thursday's game against the Reds, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The Nationals should offer more details following Thursday's game, but it sounds like Senzel may be facing an extended absence to begin the season. Ildemaro Vargas entered the lineup as Senzel's replacement and figures to see regular reps at third base while he's out.