MLB Player News
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Clubs 11th homer
Wong went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Rangers.
He launched a Jose Urena slider over the Green Monster in the third inning to give the Red Sox a 6-0 lead. Wong has cooled down a bit in August, slashing .289/.304/.422 through 10 games with a 37.0 percent strikeout rate, but the 28-year-old backstop has already put together a career-best campaign with 11 homers and 43 RBI through 91 contests. With Danny Jansen and Mickey Gasper now on the roster, it wouldn't a surprise if manager Alex Cora tries to find a bit more rest for Wong down the stretch, even if it's just at a less demanding defensive position -- Wong's seen action in nine games at first base, five at DH and four at second base already this season.
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Shea Langeliers C | OAK
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Bangs out three XBH in win
Langeliers went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Mets.
The backstop came one base shy of hitting for the cycle, and he supplied what proved to be the game-winning hit in the third inning when he launched a three-run homer off former batterymate Paul Blackburn. Langeliers has produced four hits in back-to-back games, but prior to that offensive eruption he was batting just .182 (10-for-55) in 16 contests since the All-Star break. On the season, he sports a lopsided .226/.288/.466 slash line, and his next home run will give him a new career high with 23.
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Travis d'Arnaud C | ATL
Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Homers in Tuesday's win
D'Arnaud went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Giants.
D'Arnaud went deep off Kyle Harrison in the third to extend Atlanta's lead to 3-1. He later reached on an infield single in the 10th inning, which plated another run that wound up being the difference in the game. The 35-year-old backstop now has two homers in his last two starts and five RBI over the last three games for Atlanta. For the year, d'Arnaud is slashing .255/.313/.485 with 13 homers, 40 RBI, 32 runs, a steal and a 17:59 BB:K in 256 plate appearances.
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William Contreras C | MIL
Brewers' William Contreras: Homers in consecutive games
Contreras went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Contreras has homered in consecutive games, and he's driven in three of the Brewers' four runs over the first two games of this series. The catcher has hit four of his 15 homers this season in August, going 14-for-43 (.326) over 11 contests this month. Overall, he's at a .285/.358/.462 slash line with 69 RBI, 76 runs scored, 32 doubles, five stolen bases and two triples over 115 games.
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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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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Drives in seven runs Tuesday
Rogers went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a grand slam and seven total RBI in Tuesday's 15-1 win over the Mariners.
It was an unexpected monster performance for Rogers, who came into the contest mired in a 1-for-23 slump and sporting just a .591 OPS overall. The seven-RBI tally is also a new single-game career high for the catcher. While Rogers provided a huge jolt Tuesday, his fantasy value moving forward will be capped if he continues to split time behind the plate with Dillon Dingler.
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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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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Back in lineup
O'Hoppe (knee) will start at catcher and bat third Tuesday against Toronto, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
O'Hoppe was pulled from Monday's game due to a sore right knee, though manager Ron Washington said afterward that his removal was precautionary. The 24-year-old backstop will now return to the lineup without missing a game and look to turn things around after going 0-for-24 over his last six contests.
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Out of Tuesday's lineup
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.
Jeffers went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in Monday's series opener and will sit Tuesday as he and Christian Vazquez continue to split playing time behind the plate.