MLB Player News
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Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Homers again
Devers batted cleanup and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a second run scored in Friday's 5-3 win over the Angels.
Devers adjusted to a new spot in the batting order by blasting his sixth homer in 13 games. Masataka Yoshida (hamstring) is the normal cleanup batter and has been unavailable the last three games, but he could return Saturday.
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DJ LeMahieu 2B | NYY
Yankees' DJ LeMahieu: Returns to lineup Saturday
LeMahieu (quad) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against the Twins.
LeMahieu will play third base and bat leadoff on Jackie Robinson Day in the Bronx after missing three straight games because of quad tightness. He's registered a cool .833 OPS through 42 plate appearances this season.
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Edmundo Sosa LF | PHI
Phillies' Edmundo Sosa: Pops second homer
Sosa went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-3 win over the Reds.
Every Phillie in the lineup got at least one hit and the team combined for six extra-base knocks among 13 total hits, but Sosa's second-inning shot off Connor Overton was the only homer of the bunch. With Alec Bohm needed at first base, Sosa has seen consistent playing time at third. He's responded with a .300 batting average (9-for-30) with two doubles, two homers and five RBI on the season, but his 0:9 BB:K suggests Sosa won't keep up that level of production for long.
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Nick Maton DH | CHW
Tigers' Nick Maton: Plays hero off bench
Maton went 1-for-3 with a walk and a walkoff three-run home run in Friday's 7-5 extra-innings win over the Giants.
He began the night on the bench, but Maton pinch hit for Tyler Nevin in the fifth inning and remained in the game at third base, eventually playing hero in the 11th by driving a Camilo Doval fastball over the wall in right field. After hitting only 10 homers in 92 games between Triple-A and the majors last season in the Phillies' organization, Maton has gone yard three times in his first 12 contests as a Tiger. His .194 batting average (7-for-36) and 30.2 percent strikeout rate will need to improve if he's going to continue getting regular playing time.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | ARI
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Reaches base four times
Arenado went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Friday's 3-0 win over the Pirates.
Arenado posted his sixth multi-hit effort of the season, though this was the first time he had three hits this season. While none went for extra bases, he was able to come around to score on a pair of Nolan Gorman singles. Arenado is up to a .357/.413/.500 slash line with two home runs, 13 RBI, eight runs scored and two doubles through 63 plate appearances.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
White Sox's Jake Burger: Slugs second homer
Burger went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Friday against the Orioles.
Burger smacked his second homer of the season in the second inning of Friday's game when he took Tyler Wells deep to center field. He drew the start at third base in the absence of Yoan Moncada (back), and he should have the chance for some consistent playing time in the short term with Moncada and Tim Anderson (knee) on the injured list. While Burger has four extra-base hits across 14 plate appearances to begin the season, he has also struck out six times in that span.
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J.D. Davis 1B | LAA
Giants' J.D. Davis: Bruises leg, but doesn't exit game
Davis aggravated a bruise on his leg while making a play in the field Friday against the Tigers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The hard-hitting infielder stayed in the game and kept making plays, finishing 2-for-5 with one home run and three RBI. He has been swinging a hot bat, but the Giants face righty Michael Lorenzen on Saturday, so that might be a good opportunity to let Davis rest his raspberry that he aggravated with a skidding over-the-head catch Friday.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Getting day off Friday
Hayes is not in the lineup Friday at St. Louis.
Hayes had a double, a walk and a run scored out of the leadoff spot Thursday versus Cardinals, but he's slashing just .157/.204/.235 through 54 total plate appearances this season. Rodolfo Castro will start at third base and bat sixth for the visiting Pirates on Friday.
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Carter Kieboom 3B | CLE
Nationals' Carter Kieboom: Taking part in baseball activities
Kieboom (shoulder) is hitting in the cage and making throws across the diamond, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Kieboom is starting to incorporate more and more baseball activities as he recovers from a right shoulder impingement, but the Nats figure to bring him along slowly after he missed the majority of spring training. The 25-year-old former top prospect could be ready for activation in early May.
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Yoan Moncada 3B | LAA
White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Hopes to return on road trip
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Friday that he's hopeful Moncada (back) can return sometime during the team's April 21-26 road trip, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Moncada is first eligible for activation at the beginning of the trip April 21. The third baseman was finally placed on the injured list Friday after being out all week with lower-back soreness. It sounds like his absence could be a short one, but much will depend on how he progresses in the coming days.