MLB Player News
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Back on track with homer
Carpenter went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two runs scored to help St. Louis to a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers on Monday.
After a brief lull that saw him log just one hit over his last six games, Carpenter resumed his blistering hot streak in this contest, ripping three hits, including his 34th long ball that he tagged in the ninth inning off the usually-untouchable Kenley Jansen. Carpenter has made any concerns over his well-documented slow start seem downright comical, as he boasts a phenomenal .273/.387/.582 slash line over 440 at-bats.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | ATL
Giants' Andrew McCutchen: Likely to be traded this week
McCutchen has been placed on revocable waivers and could be traded by the end of the week, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic Bay Area reports.
According to Baggarly, the Giants were waiting to place McCutchen on revocable waivers while they were still chasing a playoff spot, but after they were swept by the Reds over the weekend, it seems they are waiving the white flag. Baggarly expects the Giants to do McCutchen a solid and ship him to a team where he could get more exposure during a potential World Series run. He will be a free agent this winter, and while he is still an above-average hitter (114 wRC+), he has graded out as a negative defender in each of the past three seasons (according to FanGraphs). If he does indeed get traded to a contender, it's possible he will see a significant reduction in playing time over the rest of the season, but that all depends on where he ends up.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Angels' Shohei Ohtani: Successful sim game
Ohtani (elbow) threw 29 pitches in a simulated game Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
He faced both left-handed and right-handed hitters and the Angels said everything went well. This was a big step, as he had previously been throwing bullpen sessions. He continues to work toward a potential return to the mound in September. The next step could be a lengthier sim game or a rehab assignment.
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Mark Canha LF | TEX
Athletics' Mark Canha: Not in Monday's lineup
Canha is out of the lineup against Texas on Monday.
Canha will take a seat for the second time in the past three days after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday. In his absence, Ramon Laureano will start in center field and bat eighth.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Dodgers' Joc Pederson: On bench versus southpaw
Pederson is not in the lineup Monday versus St. Louis.
Pederson will hit the bench with left-hander Austin Gomber on the hill for the Cardinals. In his place, Enrique Hernandez will man center field and bat sixth.
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Byron Buxton CF | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Heating up at Triple-A
Buxton has gone 8-for-20 with a home run, three doubles and a walk in four games since returning from Triple-A Rochester's 7-day disabled list.
Buxton was sidelined for about two weeks with a sore wrist before being activated Aug. 14. The outfielder's recent form at the dish suggests that the wrist is no longer presenting any issues, but the Twins will presumably want to see Buxton log more at-bats in the minors before considering a promotion to the big club. Expect him to get the call to Minnesota when rosters expand at September, at which point he could poach at-bats from the likes of Jake Cave and Robbie Grossman.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Continues hot hitting
Turner went 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 12-1 win over Seattle.
Turner now owns a 13-game hitting streak with eight multi-hit contests during that span, raising his season batting average to .305. The veteran third baseman has nine homers and 30 RBI through 223 at-bats this season after capping off Sunday's big win with a three-run blast in the ninth inning.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Dodgers' Joc Pederson: Out against lefty
Pederson will sit against the left-handed Roenis Elias and the Mariners on Sunday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Pederson did start against a southpaw on Friday but before that had sat against 17 straight lefties. Matt Kemp will start in left field Sunday, with Enrique Hernandez starting in center.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna: Slugs 15th homer
Ozuna went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two runs in a win over the Brewers on Saturday.
A day after plating a pair of runs with a timely single, Ozuna was back at it again Saturday. His homer was his second of August, with both having come in the last four games. The veteran outfielder has now pushed his monthly average up to .304 with Saturday's production, which also afforded him his seventh RBI over his last eight contests.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Manning leadoff spot
Belt will start at first base and bat leadoff Sunday against the Reds, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
For the first time in his eight-year career in the big leagues, Belt will fill the table-setting role while normal leadoff man Andrew McCutchen shifts down to the three hole. It's unclear if manager Bruce Bochy plans to stick with Belt atop the lineup, but the 30-year-old's performance Sunday will likely have a say in the matter.