MLB Player News
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Not starting Sunday
Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
Martinez started the past two games after returning from the paternity list, and he'll receive a day off after going 2-for-8 with a double, three RBI and three strikeouts. Jesse Winker will shift to designated hitter while Harrison Bader picks up a start in the outfield.
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Gary Sanchez C | BAL
Brewers' Gary Sanchez: Blasts 10th home run
Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Rockies.
Sanchez set the tone for the Brewers early, following up Willy Adames' solo homer in the first inning with a shot of his own. His 10th homer of the year was just his third in 36 home games thus far. Sanchez got his first hit since Aug. 25, after he had gone 0-for-15 in his previous five games. The 31-year-old catcher has now hit 10 or more home runs in each of the last nine seasons.
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Kris Bryant RF | COL
Rockies' Kris Bryant: 'Questionable' to return this year
Manager Bud Black said Saturday that Bryant (back) is "doing better" but the 32-year-old outfielder is still "questionable" to return this season, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Bryant has been on the injured list since Aug. 12 due to a back strain. It's the third time he's been on the IL this season, and the second on account of a back injury. If Bryant is indeed done for the year, he'll finish with a slash line of .218/.323/.301 with two home runs and 15 RBI across 155 plate appearances.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Not starting Game 2
McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Washington.
McCutchen will get a breather to conclude Saturday's activities after going 0-for-4 with a strikeout during Game 1. Bryan Reynolds will serve as Pittsburgh's DH, opening up a spot in left field for Michael Taylor.
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Hitting bench against lefty
Pederson isn't in Arizona's lineup for Saturday's game versus the Astros.
The left-handed bat of Pederson will stay put in the dugout Saturday with southpaw Yusei Kikuchi set to start on the hill for Houston. Ketel Marte will instead serve as the Snakes' designated hitter, opening up second base for Kevin Newman.
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Kyle Schwarber LF | PHI
Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Homers, drives in three
Schwarber went 2-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored, three RBI and a walk in Friday's win over Miami.
Schwarber reached on an error and scored in the first inning. He then knocked an RBI single and scored again in the second before capping off his day with a two-run blast in the sixth. It was Schwarber's fifth home run in his last four games following a 17-game drought. He's up to 33 long balls and 92 RBI with an .857 OPS through 130 games.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Secures 100-RBI season with homer
Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians.
Ohtani was quiet in a two-game series against the Angels, going 1-for-8 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored. He got back to swinging a hot bat Friday with his sixth-inning long ball, ending a four-game homer drought that incredibly was his longest since the All-Star break. Ohtani has eight multi-hit efforts over his last 15 games, going 19-for-63 (.302) with five homers and nine steals in that span. The superstar has a .291/.376/.617 slash line with 45 homers (one off his career high), 100 RBI, 112 runs scored, 46 steals, 30 doubles and seven triples through 138 contests.
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Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson: Idle vs. lefty
Pederson is absent from Friday's lineup against Houston.
The Astros are sending southpaw Framber Valdez to the mound, so the lefty-hitting Pederson will begin Friday's contest in the dugout. Since the All-Star break, Pederson has slashed .298/.459/.606 with 22 runs scored, eight home runs and 21 RBI across 122 plate appearances in his strong-side platoon role. Ketel Marte will serve as the designated hitter Friday while Kevin Newman gets the start at second base.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Returning to action Friday
McCutchen (knee) is batting cleanup as the designated hitter Friday against the Nationals.
The 37-year-old was held out of the lineup the past two days due to some lingering knee soreness, but he's ready to rejoin the starting nine Friday. McCutchen was productive when healthy in August, as he had a .368/.457/.737 slash line with four homers in 11 games.
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Travis Blankenhorn DH | WAS
Nationals' Travis Blankenhorn: DFA'd by Washington
The Nationals designated Blankenhorn for assignment Friday.
The 28-year-old was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 20 and has now lost his place on the 40-man roster. Blankenhorn has an .821 OPS in 106 games with Rochester this season and could remain with the affiliate if he passes through waivers unclaimed.