MLB Player News
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna: Stays hot in loss
Ozuna went 2-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday.
Ozuna has followed up his late-spring improvement at the plate with a three-game hitting streak to open 2019. The veteran outfielder is reportedly feeling better than he has in years as a result of offseason shoulder surgery, so a return to the type of power numbers he generated in his final Marlins campaign two seasons ago (career-high 30 doubles and 37 home runs) may be in the works.
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Michael Brantley LF | HOU
Astros' Michael Brantley: Receives routine rest
Brantley is not starting Sunday against the Rays, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brantley started the season hot, going 5-for-12 with a homer and a double through his first three games. He'll get a routine off day Sunday as the Astros seek to keep his workload in check. Josh Reddick, Jake Marisnick and George Springer will start from left to right across the outfield.
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Miguel Cabrera DH | DET
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: Back in lineup already
Cabrera (hand) is back in the lineup as a designated hitter Sunday against the Blue Jays, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Cabrera exited Saturday's contest after taking a pitch off his hand. X-rays were negative, and he won't be forced to miss a single game.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Blasts solo shot
Harper went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo homer in Saturday's win over the Braves.
It took until his sixth at-bat, but Harper finally opened his Phillies account in emphatic fashion, launching a second-deck bomb off lefty Jesse Biddle in the bottom of the seventh. His late arrival to camp naturally raises concerns about a slow start to the season, but April has historically been Harper's best month, so his bat may not take long to heat up.
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Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM
Rays' Ji-Man Choi: Day off Sunday
Choi is not starting Sunday against the Astros.
Choi started the team's first three games at first base but will sit Sunday with lefty Wade Miley on the mound. Yandy Diaz moves from third to first, with Daniel Robertson getting the start at third base.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Reds' Jesse Winker: Sitting out Sunday
Winker isn't in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Winker was slated to sit out Saturday prior to the game raining out, but the Reds maintained a similar lineup Sunday. Winker is still expected to draw the majority of starts alongside Scott Schebler and Yasiel Puig, though it is a bit surprising to see him out of the lineup against right-handed starter Trevor Williams.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Dodgers' Joc Pederson: Goes 3-for-3 with blast
Pederson went 3-for-3 with a leadoff home run, two walks and four runs scored in an 18-5 victory over the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
The Dodgers leadoff hitter is off to a fantastic start with seven runs and seven hits -- including three home runs -- in the first three games. It looks like Pederson could platoon this season, so keep the expectations in check, but the great start already has owners thinking maybe he could reach a career best in at least the runs category, as his career high is 67 in 2015.
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Miguel Cabrera DH | DET
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: X-rays negative on hand
Cabrera does not have a fractured hand according to X-rays taken Saturday.
The veteran appears to have escaped with nothing worse than a bruise after getting hit in the hand by a pitch Saturday. It's unknown whether he'll need to miss a day or two or if he could get back in the lineup as soon as Sunday.