MLB Player News
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Patrick Wisdom 3B | SEA
Cubs' Patrick Wisdom: Back in action in right field
Wisdom, who had still been bothered by a finger injury since being activated from the injured list Sept. 10, will start in right field and bat sixth Wednesday against the Marlins, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The injury may at least partially explain why Wisdom had been on the bench for four of the Cubs' past five games, but his inclusion in the lineup Wednesday suggests the finger issue isn't enough of a concern to result in a return trip to the IL. In any case, Wisdom's usage in right field rather than at his typical home at either corner-infield spot could suggest that the Cubs plan to deploy him as more of a utility player over the final weeks of the season. Wisdom has trimmed his strikeout rate more than seven points from 2021 (from 40.9 percent to 33.5 percent), but a big drop in isolated power (.287 to .213) has made him less valuable from both a real-life and fantasy perspective.
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Nick Senzel 3B | LAD
Reds' Nick Senzel: Moved to IL
The Reds placed Senzel on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a fractured toe on his left foot.
Senzel sustained the season-ending injury in the Reds' loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday, when he barreled into the outfield wall while trying to make a play on a fly ball. The broken toe is yet another cruel twist of fate for Senzel, who has missed extensive time since first reaching the big leagues in 2019 and hasn't logged more than 410 plate plate appearances in any of his four seasons. Even though Senzel had just started to make strides at the plate over his final six games, he'll still finish with a lowly .231/.297/.306 slash line across 109 games. Senzel should be fully healed for spring training, but he may not be guaranteed an everyday role when the 2023 season begins.
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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Astros' Alex Bregman: Officially out of lineup
Bregman isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.
Bregman was expected to get a day off Wednesday, and he'll officially be on the bench while Aledmys Diaz starts at third base and bats cleanup. Bregman should be available off the bench if needed for Wednesday's series finale in Tampa Bay.
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Matt Chapman 3B | SF
Blue Jays' Matt Chapman: Notches two extra-base hits
Chapman went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two additional runs in Tuesday's 18-11 win over the Phillies.
Chapman owns an .821 OPS thus far in September, but a good chunk of his offensive production has come in the last four games. During that span, Chapman has collected four extra-base hits (three home runs, one double) while driving in seven and scoring seven times.
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Brian Anderson RF | ATL
Marlins' Brian Anderson: Resting again Wednesday
Anderson isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Anderson has gone 0-for-8 with a run, a walk and two strikeouts over his last three games and will head to the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Jon Berti is starting in left field and leading off.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Slams 21st homer
Muncy went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader split with Arizona.
Muncy didn't play in the first game of the twin bill but started at third base in the nightcap. He accounted for both Los Angeles runs with a two-run shot to right field in the sixth inning. Muncy has at least one hit in 13 of his 15 games in September and is slashing .305/.388/.627 with five homers, 14 RBI and 14 runs this month.
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Eugenio Suarez 3B | CIN
Mariners' Eugenio Suarez: Hopes to begin taking swings soon
Suarez (finger) saw a hand specialist in Arizona on Monday and hopes to begin taking swings off a tee and in the batting cage at some point this week, the Associated Press reports.
Suarez suffered a small fracture in the tip of his right index finger Friday against the Angels and hit the injured list a day later. The veteran slugger's potential progress in coming days should go a long way toward determining how realistic a return will be when he's first eligible Tuesday, at least as a designated hitter.
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Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Provides needed cushion
Devers went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.
Devers launched his 27th home run in the top of the ninth, giving Boston a 5-1 cushion, but it turned out to be needed when the Reds plated two off Matt Strahm. Devers has reached base safely in nine straight games, going 12-for-37 (.324) with two home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI, one steal and three runs scored during that stretch.
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Kevin Newman 3B | LAA
Pirates' Kevin Newman: Swipes bag in return
Newman went 2-for-5 with a stolen base Tuesday against the Yankees.
Newman made his first start since Sept. 14 after an absence caused by an undisclosed issue. He extended his hitting streak to five games in his return to the lineup and also managed to swipe his seventh base of the season. Though he's maintained a respectable .275 average across 273 plate appearances this season, Newman still has just a .298 wOBA and 90 wRC+.
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Rodolfo Castro 2B | PHI
Pirates' Rodolfo Castro: Three-run shot in loss
Castro went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 9-8 loss to the Yankees.
Castro took Clay Holmes deep with two runners on base to put Pittsburgh up 8-4 in the eighth inning before Wil Crowe blew the game in the bottom of the ninth. The 23-year-old has reached base safely in all but four games since the beginning of September but is batting just .208 in 72 at-bats during that stretch. On the bright side, he has knocked in 14 batters in those games while hitting in the middle of the Pittsburgh lineup. He could be a good source of RBI in the final weeks of the season.