MLB Player News
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Starting Saturday
Jeffers (thumb) is starting Saturday against the Orioles.
Jeffers exited Friday's win over the Orioles due to a right thumb contusion, but he'll start behind the plate and bat ninth Saturday. Over his last six games, he's gone 2-for-17 with four strikeouts.
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Luke Maile C | KC
Guardians' Luke Maile: Not starting matinee
Maile isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees.
Maile went 1-for-13 with three strikeouts over his last four games and will be out of the starting nine for a second consecutive matchup. Sandy Leon is starting at catcher and batting eighth.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Not starting matinee
Kirk isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays.
Kirk drew starts in the last three games and went 2-for-11 with a double, three runs, an RBI and a walk. He'll get a breather in Saturday's matinee while Gabriel Moreno starts behind the dish and Cavan Biggio enters the lineup at first base.
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Francisco Mejia C | TB
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Takes seat in matinee
Mejia isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mejia went 2-for-12 with five strikeouts over his last four games and will take a seat for a second consecutive game. Rene Pinto is starting at catcher and batting seventh.
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Keibert Ruiz C | WAS
Nationals' Keibert Ruiz: Pops third homer
Ruiz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Marlins.
The backstop took Dylan Floro deep in the sixth inning, but the Nationals were already in a 6-1 hole at that point. All three of Ruiz's homers this season have come from the left side of the plate, but the switch hitter's splits remain fairly balanced (.654 OPS vs. LHP, .681 vs. RHP).
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Austin Barnes C | NYM
Dodgers' Austin Barnes: Records steal Friday
Barnes went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 5-1 win over the Padres.
Barnes has logged a stolen base in each of his last two games after not swiping a bag all year. The catcher also supplied an RBI on a groundout in Friday's win. He appeared in just eight games in June, going 2-for-22 (.091) with nine walks. Barnes is slashing .190/.323/.380 with four home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in 96 plate appearances. Will Smith is likely to start most games behind the dish, but when he moves to designated hitter as he did Friday, Barnes can fill in.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Athletics' Sean Murphy: Paces offense Friday
Murphy went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two total RBI in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mariners.
Murphy opened the scoring with an RBI single in the fifth inning and added a solo shot in the seventh to restore a two-run lead. This was his fourth multi-hit game in his last nine, but he hadn't posted an extra-base hit in that span prior to Friday. The catcher is slashing .224/.297/.406 with nine homers, 32 RBI, 29 runs scored, a stolen base and 17 doubles through 283 plate appearances.
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Gary Sanchez C | MIL
Twins' Gary Sanchez: Returns from heel injury
Sanchez (heel) replaced an injured Ryan Jeffers (hand) in the third inning and went 0-for-2 in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles.
Sanchez had exited Thursday's game early due to a heel injury, but he was able to get behind the plate Friday. He'll likely start Saturday's game with Jeffers having a sore hand.