MLB Player News
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Shea Langeliers C | OAK
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Connects for three-run shot in loss
Langeliers went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday.
Langeliers erased a 4-3 deficit in the ninth inning via a two-out, 357-foot shot off Collin Snider with Max Schuemann and JJ Bleday aboard to give the Athletics a temporary 6-4 lead. It was the slugging backstop's first homer in eight games and put him at 29 for the season, while also pushing his September RBI total to an impressive 16 over 23 contests. It's been a season of across-the-board improvement for Langeliers at the plate, and all three components of his .224/.288/.450 slash line heading into the final day of the regular season qualify as career bests.
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Patrick Bailey C | SF
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Rare steal in win
Bailey went 1-for-3 with two RBI, one stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Cardinals.
Bailey has gone 12-for-43 (.279) with three extra-base hits and four RBI over his last 14 games. His steal Saturday was his fourth of the year and his first since July 22. The catcher has put together a middling year at the plate, slashing .234/.298/.339 with eight home runs, 46 RBI, 46 runs scored, 16 doubles and a triple over 121 contests. While he hasn't hit all that well, Bailey's elite pitch framing and arm have made him an essential part of the Giants' roster.
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Kyle Higashioka C | SD
Padres' Kyle Higashioka: Breaks open game with homer
Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Diamondbacks.
Higashioka opened the scoring when he took A.J. Puk deep in the ninth inning. This was Higashioka's first homer in a month, and he's had a poor September, batting just .174 over 17 contests. For the season, the catcher has a .220/.263/.476 slash line with 17 homers, 45 RBI, 29 runs scored and two stolen bases over a career-high 263 plate appearances.
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Travis d'Arnaud C | LAA
Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Walk-off homer Saturday
D'Arnaud went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Royals.
D'Arnaud has had few big moments in September -- he's hitting just .163 (7-for-43) with two extra-base hits this month. The walk-off blast was his 15th homer of the year, making this the fourth season in his career in which he's reached that mark. The catcher has added a .236/.301/.439 slash line with 48 RBI, 39 runs scored, 16 doubles and one stolen base over 335 plate appearances. He has been splitting time evenly behind the dish with Sean Murphy lately.
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Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Slugs ninth homer
Grandal went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's 9-4 win over the Yankees.
The veteran catcher got the Pirates' offense going with a solo shot off Luis Gil in the second inning, one of five long balls by Pittsburgh on the afternoon. It's Grandal's first multi-hit performance since Aug. 21, and his first three-hit effort since Aug. 4. On the season, the 35-year-old sports a .228/.304/.400 slash line with nine homers and 27 RBI in 215 plate appearances.
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Jonah Heim C | TEX
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Not starting Saturday
Heim is absent from Saturday's lineup against the Angels.
Heim will get a breather Saturday after going 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's 5-2 win over the Halos. Carson Kelly will start behind home plate and bat seventh.
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Matt Thaiss C | CHC
Angels' Matt Thaiss: Taking seat Saturday
Thaiss is absent from Saturday's lineup against Texas, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
The lefty-hitting Thaiss will retreat to the dugout Saturday with the Rangers sending southpaw Andrew Heaney to the mound. Brandon Drury will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Not starting Saturday
Alvarez (back) isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday against Milwaukee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez had to make an early exit from Friday's contest due to back spasms, and while his back is reportedly feeling better, per DiComo, he's not quite ready to return to the starting lineup. Luis Torrens will catch for Jose Quintana and bat seventh.