MLB Player News
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Goes deep again Friday
Pederson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 10-8 loss to the Padres.
Pederson has gone 5-for-13 with three homers and four RBI over his first four games in July. The slugger is up to 13 long balls, 38 RBI, 34 runs scored and four stolen bases across 250 plate appearances this season. He's managed to hit for both average (.289) and power (.531 slugging percentage), though he's typically had trouble maintaining the former over the course of a full season.
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Delivers walk-off homer
Machado went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and three total runs scored in Friday's 10-8 win over the Diamondbacks.
The Padres blew a five-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Machado saved the day with his walk-off blast. He had started to go cold, going 2-for-15 over his previous four games, but he's now slugged five homers and added 11 RBI over his last nine contests. The third baseman is at a .270/.320/.425 slash line with 12 long balls, 49 RBI, 42 runs scored and five stolen bases through 84 games this season.
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Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Set to return Tuesday
Schwarber (groin) is expected to be activated off the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Schwarber has been working through drills at 90 percent intensity, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia, and the 31-year-old slugger will run the bases Saturday in the last step in his rehab program before he rejoins the team. Schwarber is slashing .250/.373/447 with 17 home runs, 49 RBI and a .820 OPS over 367 plate appearances this season.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Out against lefty
Blackmon is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Royals.
Tough lefty Cole Ragans will be on the hill for Kansas City, so the left-handed hitting Blackmon will begin the contest on the bench. Elias Diaz is getting a start at designated hitter while Jacob Stallings does the catching.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Taking seat Friday
McCutchen is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.
McCutchen will get his first day off since June 13, handing DH duties over to Bryan Reynolds while Joshua Palacios leads off. McCutchen is 2-for-19 with eight strikeouts over his last five games. However, both hits went for extra bases.
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Nick Martini DH | CIN
Reds' Nick Martini: Swats homer in win
Martini went 1-for-1 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Yankees.
Martini put the Reds on top early with a second-inning home run, his fifth of the season and first in 12 games since being recalled from the minors. He later walked and was removed once a left-hander entered the game. He's been a steady lineup presence lately against right-handers, a deployment that should continue until TJ Friedl (hamstring) is ready to return.
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Homers in win
Pederson went 1-for-2 with two walks, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 12-3 win over the Dodgers.
Pederson got the rout started early against his former team with a first-inning solo homer. It was his second home run in the last three games and 12th of the season. Pederson maintains career highs in average (.284) and OPS (.896), mostly against right-handed pitching. Just 18 of his 250 plate appearances have come against left-handers.
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Kyle Schwarber DH | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Working out at 90 percent intensity
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Schwarber (groin) is going through drills at 90 percent intensity, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Meanwhile, Thomson pegged Bryce Harper (hamstring) and J.T. Realmuto (knee) at 70-to-75 percent as they go through drills. While it's possible all three players make it back prior to the All-Star break, Schwarber would appear to have the best shot to do so. He's coming back from a left groin strain.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Returning to bench Thursday
Martinez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals.
Martinez returned to action Wednesday after missing one game due to ankle soreness, but he'll head back to the bench for Thursday's 11:05 AM ET start. DJ Stewart will bat fifth as the designated hitter in the series finale at Washington.
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David Peralta RF | SD
Padres' David Peralta: Hits first homer of campaign
Peralta went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Rangers.
Peralta has slipped into a bench role after batting just .209 over 23 games in June. This was his first start since June 23, and he made the most of it by providing the Padres' winning hit, a two-run homer in the seventh inning, which was Peralta's first long ball this year. He's slashing a meager .210/.300/.290 with six RBI, seven runs scored and no stolen bases over 70 plate appearances. Bryce Johnson, who is hitting .182 on the year, has handled right field lately, but Peralta may claw back some playing time if he can build on Wednesday's performance.