MLB Player News
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Manny Machado 3B | SD
Padres' Manny Machado: Swipes bag Tuesday
Machado went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-0 victory versus Miami.
Machado used his legs to help generate San Diego's final run in the eighth inning, hitting a one-out single and stealing second base before coming home on a Donovan Solano double. The single extended Machado's hitting streak to seven games, and he has four doubles along with three RBI and a .320 batting average during that span. However, the third baseman is in the midst of a lengthy homer drought -- he's now gone 22 games since his last long ball and has just five home runs through 223 plate appearances this season.
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Nick Martini LF | CIN
Reds' Nick Martini: Settling back into everyday role
Martini will start at designated hitter and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
He'll stick in the starting nine for the fourth game in a row after getting on base five times in 12 plate appearances in the last three contests. With center fielder TJ Friedl (thumb) returning from the injured list Wednesday, the Reds are notably keeping Martini in the lineup over Jacob Hurtubise, who had been handling an everyday role for most of the two-and-a-half-week period that Friedl was sidelined.
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Mike Ford DH | CIN
Reds' Mike Ford: Removed from 40-man roster
The Reds designated Ford for assignment Wednesday.
Ford signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract just three weeks ago but will exit the 40-man roster after going just 9-for-60 (.150) at the plate. The 31-year-old will undoubtedly clear waivers and could remain in the organization, as declining an outright assignment would mean forfeiting the remainder of his salary.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Slugs game-winning homer
Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Nationals.
The veteran slugger broke open a scoreless tie when he took Jacob Barnes deep in the seventh inning, continuing his most recent hit streak. Ozuna has reached base safely in 21 straight games, a stretch in which he's slashing .324/.409/.662 with seven homers and 16 RBI.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Sitting down for nightcap
Martinez isn't in the Mets' lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
After a 1-for-4 effort in Game 1, Martinez will get a breather to conclude Tuesday's activities. DJ Stewart will instead get the nod as New York's DH and bat fourth.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Sitting out nightcap
Ohtani isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
The Dodgers were planning on giving Ohtani the evening off heading into Tuesday's twin bill, so he'll sit in the dugout after an 0-for-5 performance during Game 1. Will Smith will instead serve as Los Angeles' designated hitter, allowing Austin Barnes to start behind the plate.
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Kyle Schwarber LF | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Belts 10th homer
Schwarber went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and a stolen base in Monday's loss to San Francisco.
Schwarber put the Phillies on the board in the third inning with a two-run shot off reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. It was his fourth homer against a lefty this season, and he's now batting a lofty .333 (27-for-71) against southpaw hurlers. Overall, Schwarber's .359 OBP this season is on pace for the second-highest mark of his career.
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Nick Martini LF | CIN
Reds' Nick Martini: Drives in pair
Martini went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Dodgers.
Martini hit the second of back-to-back, two-run singles in the third inning. He has at least one RBI in three consecutive games. Martini (.191 average) and Mike Ford (.153) are expected to share the DH spot for now.
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Gary Sanchez C | BAL
Brewers' Gary Sanchez: Playing time trending up
Sanchez will start at catcher and will bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
He'll be included in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, with three of those starts coming versus left-handed pitching and two coming versus righties. Though William Contreras remains the Brewers' clear top backstop, look for Milwaukee to continue to find room in the lineup for both Contreras and Sanchez between catcher and DH while the latter is continuing to excel at the plate. Over 103 plate appearances on the season, Sanchez is hitting .228 with nine extra-base hits (six home runs, three doubles).
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Mike Ford DH | CIN
Reds' Mike Ford: Out of lineup Sunday
Ford is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Ford will take a seat for the second time in the series while he's fallen into the midst of a slump at the plate. In his last five games, the 31-year-old has gone 2-for-19 and is slashing just .153/.180/.237 on the season.