MLB Player News
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Mark Canha LF | TEX
Athletics' Mark Canha: Called up Wednesday
Canha was brought back up to the majors prior to Wednesday's game in San Francisco.
Canha has spent 29 games with the big-league team this season, hitting .191/.234/.393 with three home runs and seven RBI. He was optioned to Triple-A Nashville in early June while in the midst of a slump, but Canha's been seeing the ball much better in the minors, going 49-for-167 while slugging .545 since heading back down. He figures to provide depth in the outfield and at first base going forward.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Receives Wednesday night off
Turner is not in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Braves, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Turner's batting average has dropped 12 points since his last off day on July 22, so he'll get another night off Wednesday. Logan Forsythe will slide over to cover the hot corner in his stead, allowing Chase Utley to pick up a start at the keystone to round out the lineup.
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Ryan Goins DH | KC
Blue Jays' Ryan Goins: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Goins is out of the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
Goins has started in 12 of Toronto's previous 13 contests and will head to the bench for a regular day off. In his place, Darwin Barney takes over at shortstop while Rob Refsnyder draws the start at the keystone.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Smacks 17th homer Tuesday
Belt went 2-for-5 with a double and his 17th home run of the season in Tuesday's 10-4 win over Oakland.
It took Belt just one game in August to match his home run total from the entire month of July. The veteran first baseman has now gone 4-for-11 with three extra-base hits since returning from a minor wrist injury July 30. Despite his patient approach at the plate, the 29-year-old has proven to be a streaky hitter over the course of his seven-year career, so we could be seeing the beginning of another hot stretch from Belt.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Marlins' Marcell Ozuna: Pounds 25th homer Tuesday
Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.
It's his second homer in three games and 25th of the year. Ozuna has slowed down a little at the plate since his huge start to the season, but he's still hitting .298 in 18 games since the All-Star break with 10 runs and 14 RBI.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Reds' Jesse Winker: Batting second Tuesday, could see more at-bats
Winker will start in right field and bat second Tuesday against the Pirates, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Winker, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Tuesday, will spell Scott Schebler in the outfield for the series opener. Schebler is said to be healthy after recently battling a shoulder injury, but with a 4-for-52 (.077 average) showing at the plate since the All-Star break, his hold on an everyday role could be loosening. Moreover, manager Bryan Price indicated prior to Winker's promotion that he wanted to give the rookie "a real look" upon his return to the big leagues, according to Sheldon, as the Reds look to assess Winker's place in their long-term plans. The 23-year-old had seen sparse at-bats in his previous three stints with the big club this season, but it looks like his role could grow substantially this time around.
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Byron Buxton CF | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Activated ahead of Tuesday's game
Buxton (groin) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
Buxton was able to get through three rehab games with Triple-A Rochester without any issues, clearing the way for him to return to the big club. The 23-year-old was on a six-game hitting streak before a left groin strain forced him to the shelf, so he'll look to pick up where he left off before the injury. He should immediately reclaim his role as the everyday center fielder for Minnesota, though it will be interesting to see if the Twins continue to give Zack Granite looks in the outfield as he's slashing .326/.380/.385 over his last 12 games.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Reds' Jesse Winker: Back in Cincinnati
Winker was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
With a roster spot opening up following the trade of Tony Cingrani to the Dodgers, Winker will return to the majors. The 23-year-old outfield prospect continues to flash excellent contact hitting in Triple-A (.314 batting average, 85 percent contact rate), but his power still hasn't developed, as he has just two home runs on the season for the Bats. Despite this, he could see some run in right field in the immediate future with Scott Schebler's shoulder still causing him some problems.
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Brad Miller DH | SD
Rays' Brad Miller: Presence on basepaths in loss
Miller went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run in Monday's 14-7 loss to the Astros.
The trade of Tim Beckham has likely afforded Miller the starting second base job for the remainder of the campaign, despite the extensive struggles the latter has encountered at the plate. He got his new starting tenure off to a solid start, getting on base throughout the night after going hitless over his last three games. Miller has plenty of work to do to boost up his current .202/.342/.328 line -- a reduction of his career-high 26.3 percent strikeout rate would be a good way to start.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Collects two knocks Monday
Belt went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 8-5 loss to Oakland.
Belt has reached base four times in two games since returning from a minor wrist injury, giving his owners confidence that the issue is behind him. The 29-year-old slashed a modest .269/.394/.449 in 21 July contests, but he only managed one home run over that span. With 16 long balls on the year, the first baseman is still on pace to surpass his career high of 18 that he set in 2015. That said, Belt's owners would like to see more than just one homer in August, especially while he carries a mediocre .240 batting average.