MLB Player News
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Reese McGuire C | CHW
Blue Jays' Reese McGuire: Recalled from Triple-A
McGuire was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Luke Maile (strained oblique) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move, so McGuire will serve as the Jays' backup catcher in the short term. He is hopping on a flight but will not make it to Toronto before the first pitch against the Rays.
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Luke Maile C | KC
Blue Jays' Luke Maile: To IL with oblique strain
Maile was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with left oblique strain, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
He suffered the injury during batting practice Saturday. Reese McGuire will be promoted from Triple-A in a corresponding move and will replace Maile as the backup catcher in Toronto.
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Athletics' Sean Murphy: Smacks three homers
Murphy, who was just added back to Triple-A Las Vegas' active roster Wednesday after recovering from a knee injury, went 3-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI in a 20-11 win over El Paso on Friday.
The wild slugfest was a microcosm of life in the Pacific Coast League this season, but Murphy's trio of round trippers was an undeniably impressive feat and came after he homered Thursday as well. The promising backstop has been effective for the Aviators when he has been healthy in 2019, slashing .341/.412/.610 across 21 games.
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Tucker Barnhart C | TEX
Reds' Tucker Barnhart: On bench Saturday
Barnhart is not in the lineup Saturday at home against the Rockies.
The 28-year-old is absent from the lineup just one day after returning from an oblique injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list. It appears to be just a routine day off for Barnhart as he's eased back from his injury. Ryan Lavarnway will start at catcher, batting ninth.
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Travis d'Arnaud C | LAA
Rays' Travis d'Arnaud: Continues timely hitting
D'Arnaud went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in a win over the Blue Jays on Friday.
The hot-hitting veteran snapped a 1-1 tie with infield single in the fifth inning, plating the two runs that would ultimately prove to be the final margin of victory for the Rays. It's been a momentous July for d'Arnaud, who's driven in 18 runs with the help of nine extra-base hits (three doubles, six home runs) while drawing starts at both catcher and first base.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Braves' William Contreras: Finding footing at Double-A
Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and a second run scored for Double-A Mississippi on Friday.
Promoted to the Southern League a little over a month ago, Contreras had some initial struggles at the new level but has gone 12-for-26 with a sharp 4:2 BB:K over his last eight games, homering in both of the last two contests. The 21-year-old remains the most exciting catcher in the Atlanta system from a fantasy perspective, although he has some real-life competition from the club's 2019 first-round pick, defensive whiz Shea Langeliers.
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Austin Hedges C | CLE
Padres' Austin Hedges: Pops eighth homer
Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Giants.
Hedges delivered a game-tying solo shot off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija in the fifth inning, but that was the only run the Padres managed to plate. Hedges has gone 6-for-18 with two homers, six RBI and two doubles in his last six games, dating back to July 7. For the year, the catcher has a .195/.260/.344 batting line with eight homers, 29 RBI and 18 runs scored in 66 games while splitting time with Francisco Mejia behind the dish.
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Matt Thaiss C | BOS
Angels' Matt Thaiss: Homers in loss
Thaiss went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Orioles.
Thaiss launched his second career home run, a two-run shot off Asher Wojciechowski to put the Angels on the board in the fifth inning. Despite getting the start, the 24-year-old has struggled to land a consistent spot in the lineup. Through 30 at-bats, Thaiss is hitting just .133/.212/.367.
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Tom Murphy C | SF
Mariners' Tom Murphy: Goes yard in win
Murphy went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Friday's 3-2 win over the Tigers.
Murphy provided the biggest hit of the night for the Mariners with his game-tying homer in the seventh inning helping to set the stage for Mallex Smith's walkoff single in the ninth. Murphy is up to 10 homers, 24 RBI and 15 runs scored in 42 games this season. He has hit safely in his last six games, going 8-for-22 with a homer and three doubles in that span.
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Willson Contreras 1B | BOS
Cubs' Willson Contreras: Goes hitless from leadoff spot
Contreras went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.
More noteworthy than the empty box score was the fact that Contreras batted first for the first time all season. The slugging catcher previously hadn't batted any higher than fourth, but Chicago manager Joe Maddon decided to mix up his lineup against Milwaukee lefty Gio Gonzalez. It remains to be seen whether Contreras will get more time in the leadoff spot. If he does, the 27-year-old could see an uptick in runs but a decrease in RBI.