MLB Player News
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Homers in third straight game
Stanton went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Friday in a loss to Houston.
Stanton plated the final run in a losing effort for New York with his 435-foot blast to left field in the eighth inning. The slugger has gone deep in each of his last three games, going 4-for-11 and driving in seven runs over that stretch. Stanton's power surge extends back to July 8 -- he's belted 10 homers in 21 games since that date, though he's hitting a modest .218 during that stretch.
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Harold Ramirez DH | WAS
Rays' Harold Ramirez: Three hits in win
Ramirez went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 8-0 win over the Tigers.
Ramirez is quietly batting .290 this season to go along with nine homers, four steals, 38 RBI and 37 runs scored. The Rays' roster is crowded and he often finds himself out of the starting lineup against right-handed pitchers, but he's not in a strict platoon role. Curtis Mead's promotion creates even more competition for playing time, but Ramirez should continue to start roughly four days per week.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Blasts 20th homer
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Yankees.
Alvarez is up to 20 home runs on the season and has hit safely in each of his eight games since returning from a 39-game stint on the injured list. His 1.017 OPS is nearly identical to last season and despite the missed time, he's still on pace for a third consecutive season with 30 or more homers. A healthy Alvarez remains one of the best hitters in the game and a stalwart in the heart of the Astros lineup.
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Mike Ford DH | MIN
Mariners' Mike Ford: Sitting again Friday
Ford is out of the lineup again Friday versus the Angels.
Ford is slashing just .130/.216/.283 with 25 strikeouts over his last 51 plate appearances dating back to July 15 and seems to have been relegated to a bench role. Cal Raleigh is serving as the Mariners' designated hitter Friday as Tom Murphy handles the catching duties.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Shut down two weeks
Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said Friday that Buxton (hamstring) will be shut down for the next two weeks, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday due to nagging tightness in his right hamstring that has since been diagnosed as a muscle strain. The team will see how he responds to the two-week shutdown period before attempting to map out a timetable for his return. Matt Wallner is serving as Minnesota's designated hitter Friday night against the Diamondbacks.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Angels' Shohei Ohtani: In lineup Friday
Ohtani (hand) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second Friday versus the Mariners.
Ohtani was pulled from his start Thursday night against Seattle due to renewed cramping in his right hand, but the issue doesn't seem to affect him when he hits. It's unclear when he might take the mound again, but the two-way superstar can keep padding his terrific offensive totals in the meantime.
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Eloy Jimenez DH | TB
White Sox's Eloy Jimenez: Out due to sore heel
Jimenez is out of the lineup Friday at Cleveland due to a sore heel, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
This may be something of a lingering issue for Jimenez, who was limited to pinch-hitting duties in Thursday's series finale against the Rangers. Oscar Colas is serving as Chicago's designated hitter Friday against the Guardians and Andrew Benintendi, Luis Robert and Trayce Thompson will start across the outfield.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Lands on IL with tight hamstring
Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 2, with right hamstring tightness, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
This is the second IL stint of the year for Buxton, who missed 10 days in June because of a left rib contusion. Jordan Luplow, who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays on Friday, will fill the vacant spot on the Twins' active major-league roster.
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Byron Buxton DH | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Remains sidelined Friday
Buxton (hamstring) is again absent from the lineup Friday versus Arizona.
Buxton missed the final two games of the Twins' three-game series in St. Louis because of right hamstring tightness and he'll remain on the bench as Minnesota opens a three-game weekend set against the visiting Diamondbacks. Matt Wallner is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth.