MLB Player News
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Playing time picking up
Carpenter has started four of the Padres' past seven games after logging just 14 plate appearances across all of August.
Carpenter's increase in playing time has followed Jake Cronenworth (wrist) going on the injured list in late August. Three of Carpenter's past four starts have come at first base, and he's gone 2-for-10 with a home run, two RBI and a 4:5 BB:K during that stretch. The veteran is slashing a meager .176/.322/.319 on the campaign, but he may continue to see opportunities down the stretch, though it's unlikely he becomes an everyday starter.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Gets evening off
Ozuna is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader with the Phillies.
Ozuna has cooled a bit since his recent power surge and went 0-for-4 in the first game of Monday's twin bill, so manager Brian Snitker decided to prevent him from playing a full nine innings in the nightcap. Ronald Acuna will serve as Atlanta's designated hitter Monday night, and Kevin Pillar will replace Acuna in right field.
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Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Losing playing time
Vogelbach remains on the bench for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.
The lefty-hitting Vogelbach will take a seat against a right-handed starting pitcher (Zach Davies) for the third time in four matchups. Though Vogelbach has maintained an excellent .995 OPS over his last 20 games, he looks as though he'll lose out on playing time down the stretch while the Mets prioritize youngsters Mark Vientos and Brett Baty at designated hitter.
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Giants' Joc Pederson: Slugs homer in win
Pederson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Rockies.
Pederson snapped a 13-game homer drought with his fifth-inning blast Sunday. During the power dry spell, he hit .275 with five RBI and four extra-base hits. The 31-year-old outfielder is up to 13 homers this year while adding 47 RBI, 52 runs scored, 12 doubles, three triples and a .246/.353/.430 slash line over 103 contests. He continues to split time between left field and designated hitter against right-handed pitchers.
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Christopher Morel 2B | TB
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Triples, homers in win
Morel went 2-for-4 with a triple and a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Morel served as the DH and batted first, and he had a big impact on the game, launching his 21st home run of the season in the third inning. He also added just his second triple of the year. Morel had seen a dip in playing time recently, but with Jeimer Candelario (back) departing Sunday's contest early, there could be a bigger role available for the former in the near future.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Out of Sunday's lineup
Martinez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Washington, Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA reports.
Martinez was reinstated from the injured list Friday and started the past two games, but he'll take a seat Sunday after going 4-for-8 with a double, a homer, three RBI and two runs. Max Muncy will receive a turn as the Dodgers' designated hitter with Chris Taylor starting at third base.
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Joey Meneses 1B | WAS
Nationals' Joey Meneses: Day off Saturday
Meneses isn't in the Nationals' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Meneses will get a breather Saturday after going 1-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's series opener. Lane Thomas will fill in as the Nats' designated hitter while Jake Alu, Jacob Young and Travis Blankenhorn man the outfield.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Goes yard in return
Martinez went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 8-5 win over the Nationals.
Activated from the IL earlier in the day, Martinez wasted little time proving he was fully recovered from his groin injury, as he drove a MacKenzie Gore slider over the fence in right-center field for a two-run shot in the first inning. It's his first long ball since July 25 and 26th of the season, and the 36-year-old DH might have enough time left on the calendar to reach 30 homers for the first time since 2019.
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Giants' Joc Pederson: Added to lineup Friday
Pederson was added to the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Colorado is sending left-hander Ty Blach to the mound and Pederson usually sits versus southpaws, but he's been pressed into duty with Austin Slater (dizziness) having to be scratched. Thairo Estrada (conjunctivitis) was also removed from the Giants' initial batting order.