MLB Player News
-
Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Homer, triple in loss
Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple and an additional run scored in Sunday's 10-5 loss to the White Sox.
Blackmon has gone 9-for-20 (.450) with two homers and two triples over six games since he returned from a two-month absence with a hand injury. Both of his homers in that span have come in the last two games. The veteran is up to a .281/.367/.468 slash line with seven long balls, 31 RBI, 42 runs scored, 14 doubles and four triples through 62 contests this season. He's been atop the lineup in all five games he's started since his return, bumping Ezequiel Tovar to the No. 2 spot in the order.
-
Daniel Vogelbach DH | TOR
Mets' Daniel Vogelbach: Swats grand slam Saturday
Vogelbach went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Saturday's 13-2 win over the Cardinals.
The fifth-inning home run was Vogelbach's third in seven games and brings his total to 10 on the season. Though Vogelbach isn't provided the sort of power the Mets need out of the designated-hitter spot, he should be locked into a regular role versus right-handed pitching nonetheless in the aftermath of the team moving Tommy Pham and Mark Canha at the trade deadline. He'll serve as the Mets' DH and bat fifth in Sunday's series finale.
-
Joc Pederson DH | ARI
Giants' Joc Pederson: On bench against lefty
Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
The Giants will roll out a right-handed-heavy lineup to counter Atlanta southpaw Max Fried, leaving no room in the starting nine for Pederson. Triple-A Sacramento call-up Luis Matos will serve as the Giants' starting left fielder while Pederson heads to the bench.
-
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B | CIN
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Steals first career base
Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's loss to the Blue Jays.
One night after his first career walk-off homer, Encarnacion-Strand notched the first steal of his young career, serving as the trail runner in a ninth-inning double steal. Considering he stole just two bases in 67 minor-league games this year, it's unlikely that the 23-year-old will have the green light on the basepaths. Encarnacion-Strand has now hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, boasting a .278/.366/.528 slash line with three homers, six RBI, four runs scored and a steal across 41 plate appearances during that stretch. However, the rookie's 36.6 percent strikeout rate during that same time frame certainly causes some concern.
-
Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Tallies five RBI
McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBI in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Twins.
McCutchen delivered a pair of big hits, including a two-run double in the sixth inning and a three-run home run three frames later. The long ball was his first since June 30, a span of 27 games. Powered primarily by a hot start to the season, McCutchen has a 114 wRC+ and .342 wOBA across 419 plate appearances on the campaign.
-
Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Pops sixth homer
Blackmon went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Saturday against the White Sox.
Blackmon has a hit in each of his five starts since returning from a hand injury, and his long ball in the seventh inning was his second extra-base hit in that span. All five of those contests have taken place at Coors Field, though Blackmon has still successfully returned to the field following a two-month absence. He should continue to be a source of runs scored and a decent batting average down the stretch as he remains locked into the leadoff role in Colorado.
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Sitting Game 1
Martinez isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Marlins, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Martinez went 1-for-3 in his return to the lineup Friday and will sit out Game 1, allowing Will Smith to serve as the DH and Austin Barnes to start behind the plate. Assuming Martinez's nagging groin injury isn't an issue, the 35-year-old slugger will likely return for the nightcap.
-
Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Hitting well since return
Blackmon went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI on Friday against the White Sox.
Blackmon has at least one hit in all four games since returning from a hand injury, and he's reached base multiple times in each of his three starts. The Rockies have plenty of candidates for at-bats between designated hitter and the outfield, though Blackmon still looks to be in line for a consistent role and has occupied the leadoff spot upon his activation.
-
J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: One hit in return
Martinez (groin) went 1-for-3 in Friday's 11-3 loss to the Marlins.
Martinez has dealt with a groin/hamstring issue that's bothered him for much of the month, leading to multiple absences. With a doubleheader on tap Saturday, it wouldn't be surprising to see him only play in one of the two games. He's gone 4-for-17 (.235) in August while managing the issue, dropping his slash line for the year to .259/.312/.552 through 91 contests.
-
Jorge Soler RF | LAA
Marlins' Jorge Soler: Swats two more homers
Soler went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs, an additional run scored and a walk in Friday's 11-3 win over the Dodgers.
Soler took Tony Gonsolin deep on the second pitch of the game and then repeated the feat with a leadoff blast in the third. Through 15 games in August, Soler's racked up seven homers and 11 RBI while primarily hitting out of the leadoff spot versus right-handed pitchers. He's up to a .245/.335/.515 slash line with 32 long balls, 67 RBI, 67 runs scored, 20 doubles and a stolen base through 116 contests. His career high of 48 homers from 2019 is likely out of reach, but he's still had an impressive year in the power department.