MLB Player News
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Back in action Sunday
Jeffers (back) is starting behind the plate and batting seventh Sunday versus the Pirates.
The 26-year-old was held out of the starting nine the past two games due to back soreness, but he'll rejoin the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Pirates. Jeffers will look to continue his hot hitting in August, as he has a 1.020 OPS with four homers and three doubles through 40 at-bats this month.
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Sitting out Sunday
Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
The Guardians and Tigers are wrapping up their four-game series with a day game, and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is on the hill for Detroit, so Cleveland manager Terry Francona decided it was an optimal time to withhold the lefty-hitting Naylor from the starting nine. Gavin Collins will step in for Naylor behind the dish, catching for starting pitcher Logan Allen.
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Breaks out of slump
Naylor went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Tigers.
The rookie backstop ripped a double off Matt Manning in the fifth inning and followed it up with another double off Will Vest in the seventh. Prior to Saturday, Naylor was in the midst of an extended slump, hitting just .095 (4-for-42) with 14 strikeouts and eight walks over his previous 16 games. The three-hit performance brings his season-long slash line up to .198/.281/.355 across 40 games.
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Yainer Diaz C | HOU
Astros' Yainer Diaz: Nabs third straight start
Diaz will start at catcher and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Mariners.
After going 4-for-8 with a solo home run and a pair of doubles in the first two games of the series while making starts at first base, Diaz will move behind the dish for Sunday's finale as top backstop Martin Maldonado gets a day off. Though Diaz is without a clear path to an everyday role at any one spot, expect the Astros to find ways to keep his hot bat in the lineup at first base, catcher or designated hitter. Since the All-Star break, Diaz ranks fourth among all Astros hitters with a .976 OPS.
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Martin Maldonado C | SD
Astros' Martin Maldonado: Moves to bench Sunday
Maldonado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Yainer Diaz will get the nod behind the plate while Maldonado rests after catching each of the last three contests. Despite going hitless during that three-game stretch to bring his batting average down to .172 for the season, Maldonado still appears to be the Astros' preferred backstop due mostly to his skills as a pitch framer and game caller.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Receives Sunday off
Wong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Wong went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and an additional run scored during Saturday's victory, but he'll take a seat for Sunday's series finale in New York. Reese McGuire will work behind the plate and bat eighth.
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Cal Raleigh C | SEA
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Not in Sunday's lineup
Raleigh is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
Raleigh started the first two games of the series in Houston and will head to the bench Sunday after going 1-for-9 with an RBI and four strikeouts. Brian O'Keefe will take over behind the plate in the series finale.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Heads to bench Sunday
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Rortvedt will take a seat for the series finale after starting in three of the past four games behind the dish. The 25-year-old might have the edge on playing time over Kyle Higashioka behind the plate at the moment, but any advantage Rortvedt might have is likely thin. Rortvedt is batting .059 in 15 games since being recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 21.
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James McCann C | ARI
Orioles' James McCann: Homer, three RBI in win
McCann went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 7-2 extra-inning win over the Athletics.
McCann popped a go-ahead solo shot in the fourth inning and added a two-run single to cap off the Orioles' rally in the 10th. The veteran has made the most of his chances in August, going 12-for-25 (.480) with a homer and 11 RBI this month. He's at a .243/.283/.405 slash line with four homers, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored and three stolen bases through 162 plate appearances on the year.
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Sits again Saturday
Jeffers (back) remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Pirates.
Jeffers was scratched from the lineup Friday with a sore back, an issue which will sideline him for at least one more day. Christian Vazquez remains the starter behind the plate.