MLB Player News
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Will Smith C | LAD
Dodgers' Will Smith: Ends power drought
Smith went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Brewers.
Smith had gone 22 games without a homer and had just two doubles among 12 hits while batting .145 in that span. This was also his first multi-hit effort in August. The veteran catcher is up to 16 homers, 62 RBI, 57 runs scored, 21 doubles and a .251/.331/.444 slash line through 97 contests overall. Smith remains in a starting role, but he has some work to do to make up for his lengthy power slump.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Getting Tuesday off
Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
Murphy will take a seat Tuesday after going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts during Monday's series opener. Travis d'Arnaud will do the catching for right-hander Charlie Morton instead and bat fifth.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Lone source of offense in loss
Contreras went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, a double and a walk during Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Contreras reached safely in three of his four plate appearances and produced the Brewers' only runs with a sixth-inning two-run shot off Joe Kelly. The 26-year-old is up to 14 home runs on the year and is 13-for-39 (.333) with 11 RBI and nine runs across 10 games in August.
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Jose Herrera C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jose Herrera: Losing work to Del Castillo
Herrera is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Herrera is on the bench for the second day in a row while the Diamondbacks hand another start at catcher to rookie Adrian Del Castillo, who has opened his big-league career by going 7-for-12 with three extra-base hits over his first three games. Even while Gabriel Moreno (adductor) is out indefinitely, Herrera looks like he could remain the Diamondbacks' No. 2 catcher, especially while Del Castillo is wielding a hot bat.
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Adrian Del Castillo C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Getting another start at catcher
Del Castillo will start at catcher and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Rockies.
Del Castillo has opened his big-league career on a high note, going 7-for-12 with a home run, two doubles, one walk, five RBI and two runs through his first three games in the majors following his promotion from Triple-A Reno last Tuesday. The lefty-hitting Del Castillo could occupy the strong side of a platoon at catcher with the switch-hitting Jose Herrera while top backstop Gabriel Moreno (adductor) is on the injured list.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Continues raking
Stephenson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run during Sunday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
Stephenson took DL Hall yard for a solo homer with two outs in the fifth inning, putting Cincinnati ahead 3-2. The long ball was Stephenson's fourth in August, and he's batting 10-for-32 (.313) with nine RBI during the month. He's slashing .248/.327/.454 on the year.
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Travis d'Arnaud C | LAA
Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Goes yard Sunday
D'Arnaud went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 9-8 loss to Colorado.
D'Arnaud was in an 0-for-10 skid at the plate before lifting a two-run blast in the fourth inning to extend Atlanta's lead to 3-0. The catcher has five homers among 13 hits over his last 12 contests, and he's added nine RBI and nine runs scored in that span. For the year, he's maintained a .252/.312/.473 slash line with 12 homers, 37 RBI, 31 runs scored, one stolen base and 14 doubles over 76 contests.
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Austin Barnes C | LAD
Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Returns to bench role
Barnes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Barnes picked up his 32nd start of the season in Saturday's 4-1 win, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts while filling in for a resting Will Smith. With Smith back in action for Sunday's series finale, Barnes will return to his usual bench role.
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Elias Diaz C | SD
Rockies' Elias Diaz: Resting up Sunday
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
He'll get a breather for the matinee contest after he started behind the dish in both of the first two games of the series. Jacob Stallings will draw the start at catcher Sunday.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Receiving breather Sunday
Murphy is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
Murphy started the first two games of the series at Coors Field and will sit for Sunday's matinee. Travis d'Arnaud will step in behind the plate to catch rookie righty Spencer Schwellenbach.