MLB Player News
-
Tommy Pham LF | PIT
Diamondbacks' Tommy Pham: Sitting Game 5
Pham isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup for Game 5 of the NLCS versus the Phillies.
Pham has gone 1-for-13 with six strikeouts through the first four games of the NLCS, so he'll get a chance to regroup as he sits out Game 5. Pavin Smith will serve as Arizona's designated hitter instead and bat fifth.
-
Tommy Pham LF | PIT
Diamondbacks' Tommy Pham: Returning to outfield in Game 3
Pham (toe) will return to the outfield Thursday in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Phillies, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Pham has been limited to DH duties since late September because of turf toe, but he's feeling better now and will give the Diamondbacks a slightly different lineup look as they try to rebound from an 0-2 series deficit. Pham is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts so far in the NLCS, but he went 7-for-22 (.318) with six runs scored in five games between the Wild Card Series and NLDS.
-
Tommy Pham LF | PIT
Diamondbacks' Tommy Pham: Limited to DH with turf toe
Pham revealed Tuesday that he's been limited to DH duties because of turf toe, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Pham served as the Diamondbacks' everyday designated hitter over the final week of the regular season and will remain in that role for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday against the Brewers. He said he might receive an injection before the game to help him get over the hump, but it's unclear whether he'll be able to play the outfield at all in Arizona's best-of-three series versus Milwaukee.
-
Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Brewers' Jesse Winker: Included on wild-card roster
Winker (quad/back) is on the Brewers' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup versus the Diamondbacks.
Winker missed the final two months of the regular season due to back and quad injuries, but he has suddenly reemerged -- likely as a pinch-hitting option against righties -- for this best-of-three series against Arizona. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter owns a career .853 OPS versus right-handed pitching.
-
Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Hits two more home runs
Ozuna went 2-for-3 with two homers, a walk and four RBI in Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Nationals.
Ozuna got his day going with a three-run blast in the third before sending out his 40th home run of the season in the ninth. Ozuna finished with seven RBI over the final two games of the year and ends the regular season with 100 RBI for the first time since 2017. Ozuna also reached 40 homers for the first time in his career and has had a tremendous bounce back campaign. The 32-year-old heads into the playoffs slashing .274/.346/.558. His .904 OPS and .284 ISO were both his highest marks since the shortened 2020 season.
-
Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: On bench for regular-season finale
Harper is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The veteran slugger didn't start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader and will sit again Sunday for the final game of the regular season with the Phillies looking toward the playoffs. Harper is likely to close the campaign with a .293/.401/.499 slash line, 21 homers, 11 steals, 72 RBI and 84 runs in 126 games.
-
Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Swats three-run homer
Ozuna went 2-for-4 with a triple and a three-run home run in Saturday's win over the Nationals.
Ozuna tagged Jordan Weems for a three-run shot in the fifth inning, marking the outfielder's 38th long ball of 2023. Over his last 12 games, Ozuna is 17-for-49 (.347) with four home runs and 15 RBI while striking out at a 26.4 percent clip.
-
Christopher Morel DH | MIA
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Blasts 26th home run
Morel went 2-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and two runs scored in Saturday's win over the Brewers.
Following up his 16-homer season as a rookie in 2022, Morel now has 26 home runs this year, and he's also boosted his batting average and OPS in his second MLB campaign. The 24-year-old has struck out more than 30 percent of the time in his first two seasons, however, which is something fantasy managers will want to see him improve upon moving forward.
-
Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Giants' Joc Pederson: Sits against Kershaw
Pederson will be on the bench against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on Saturday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Pederson seldom starts against southpaws, so it's no surprise to see him on the bench Saturday along with the rest of the Giants' lefties. Austin Slater will serve as the designated hitter.