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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Keeping focus on hitting
After going 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in his return to the lineup Monday against the Reds, Ohtani said he's "most likely" not going to be pitching again this season and will be "focusing on hitting moving forward," SportsNet LA reports.
The two-way superstar's return to the lineup Monday was a welcome sight after he sat out four contests due to lingering right biceps soreness and left knee inflammation, but it appears his return to the mound will be put on hold for now. Ohtani hasn't pitched for the Dodgers since July 3 versus San Diego due to the injuries, which also appear to have affected his bat given that he has a .122/.295/.184 slash line and 34.4 percent strikeout rate in his past 13 contests. The Dodgers haven't officially ruled out a return to pitching for Ohtani this season, and the club may hold out hope for his availability off the mound in the playoffs, even in a limited capacity.
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Bryce Eldridge DH | SF
Giants' Bryce Eldridge: Logs three RBI in victory
Eldridge went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Monday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Cardinals.
Eldridge drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third inning, hit an RBI double in the fifth and added a game-tying RBI single in the 10th. The 21-year-old has reached base safely in each of his last 16 appearances, slashing .356/.452/.508 with 15 RBI, six doubles, five runs scored and a home run in 73 plate appearances during that time. On the year, he's slashing .265/.359/.451 with 48 RBI, 46 runs scored, 15 long balls and a stolen base across 412 plate appearances.
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Eugenio Suarez DH | CIN
Reds' Eugenio Suarez: Goes yard Monday
Suarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.
This was Suarez's fourth homer over his last nine games. He's gone 8-for-31 (.258) with 10 RBI in that span. The veteran third baseman is batting .209 with a .726 OPS, 22 homers, 63 RBI, 41 runs scored, 17 doubles and a stolen base over 111 contests this season.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Returning to lineup Monday
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani (knee/biceps) will be the designated hitter and leadoff man in Monday's game against the Reds, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani missed each of the last four contests as he deals with lingering right biceps soreness and left knee inflammation. While he's feeling well enough to return to action Monday, Ohtani could have to play through some discomfort the rest of the way. Roberts has not ruled out a return to pitching this year for Ohtani, but it's a long shot.
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Michael Conforto DH | CHC
Cubs' Michael Conforto: Idle against southpaw
Conforto is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
After starting in each of the Cubs' last four games, the left-handed-hitting Conforto will retreat to the bench Monday while the Brewers send southpaw Robert Gasser to the hill. With Conforto taking a seat, Seiya Suzuki will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter, and Matt Shaw will pick up a start in right field.
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Lars Nootbaar DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Lars Nootbaar: Heading to bench for series opener
Nootbaar is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
After being left out of the lineup against righty Peter Lambert in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Astros, the left-handed-hitting Nootbaar will now sit against a left-hander (Noah Cameron) in the series opener versus the Royals. The Diamondbacks will turn to Lourdes Gurriel at designated hitter in place of Nootbaar, who is hitting .230 with three home runs, one stolen base, 12 RBI and seven runs in 25 games with Arizona since being acquired from St. Louis on Aug. 3.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Could return Monday
Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani's (knee/biceps) workout went well Saturday, and as long as things continue in this direction, "I see him in there [Monday]," Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Roberts had been keeping the door open for a possible IL stint for Ohtani, but that now sounds unlikely in light of Ohtani's progress. Ohtani hit in the batting cage Saturday and did not report any soreness. He will miss a fourth consecutive start Sunday night against the Nationals. While he appears on the verge of his return as a hitter, Ohtani is considered unlikely to pitch again this season.
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Ivan Herrera DH | STL
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Bat stays hot in win
Herrera went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-8 win over the Rockies.
The multi-hit onslaught continues for Herrera, who has at least two knocks in five of his last six games. He's also driven in 11 runs in that span. The catcher is batting .251 with a .750 OPS, 16 home runs, 64 RBI, 89 runs scored, 25 doubles, one triple and eight stolen bases over 143 contests. Herrera has thrived in the No. 2 spot in the order for much of the year, providing him with plenty of chances to cross the plate ahead of the duo of Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker most games.
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Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Homers again in loss
Schwarber went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Sunday's 5-4 loss to Atlanta.
Schwarber gave the Phillies a 4-1 lead with a solo blast in the seventh inning. The slugger entered Saturday's contest in an 0-for-14 skid but has now homered in back-to-back games and leads the majors with 42 long balls. In addition to his power, he's slashing .241/.357/.524 with 86 RBI, 85 runs scored and three steals across 614 plate appearances this season.