MLB Player News
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Marcell Ozuna DH | ATL
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: On bench again Sunday
Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
It's the second straight lineup absence for Ozuna, who is batting .108 (4-for-37) over his past 12 games and is without a homer since Aug. 13. Ronald Acuna is resting his legs as the designated hitter Sunday, which opens up right field for Eli White.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Nationals' Josh Bell: Taking seat for finale
Bell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
The switch-hitting Bell has produced a lowly 51 wRC+ against left-handed pitching this season, so he'll retreat to the bench Sunday while the Rays send southpaw Ian Seymour to the hill. Andres Chaparro will spell Bell at first base and bat cleanup.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Receiving rest Sunday
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Diaz will receive a breather after starting six stright games while going 8-for-23 with a solo home run, three doubles, two walks and two additional runs. Bob Seymour will start at first base and Brandon Lowe will serve as the Rays' designated hitter.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Runs hit streak to eight games
Pederson went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 9-3 win over the Athletics.
Pederson smacked a seventh-inning double to extend a hit streak to eight games, easily his best stretch of a trying season. He's gone 10-for-33 with five extra-base hits, nine RBI and six runs scored during the streak. The Rangers are finally getting what they paid for when they signed Pederson to a one-year, $18.5 million contract this past winter with a player option for 2026 -- he's slashing .277/.338/.554 with five home runs and 12 RBI over 23 contests in August.
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Pavin Smith RF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Likely done for season
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Smith (quadriceps) is "trending toward" missing the remainder of the season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Smith landed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a quad strain suffered Wednesday. His absence opens up playing time at first base and designated hitter. Tyler Locklear has started at first base in the two games since Smith sustained the injury, while Ketel Marte has operated as the DH.
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Trevor Larnach LF | MIN
Twins' Trevor Larnach: Resting Sunday
Larnach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
The Padres are having right-hander David Morgan open the contest, but since lefty Kyle Hart is projected to work in bulk relief, Larnach will take a seat. His absence will open up the DH spot for Byron Buxton.
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Seiya Suzuki RF | CHC
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Collects two more hits Saturday
Suzuki went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rockies.
After slumping for much of August, Suzuki has produced consecutive multi-hit games at Coors Field. The slugging outfielder is still batting just .235 in 26 games this month, and he's only gone deep once in that time. Overall, Suzuki has a .247 batting average and .803 OPS to go along with 27 home runs, which is second on the team to Pete Crow-Armstrong's 28.
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Kyle Manzardo 1B | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Belts big homer Saturday
Manzardo went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Saturday in a 4-3 win against Seattle.
Manzardo's sixth-inning long ball gave Cleveland a 3-0 lead and proved critical in a one-run game. It also marked the second straight contest in which the slugger has gone deep following a 13-game homer drought. Manzardo is up to 23 home runs and 60 RBI on the season while slashing .235/.316/.464 over 431 plate appearances.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Homers in three-hit effort
Rooker went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Saturday's 9-3 loss to the Rangers.
Rooker has gone 7-for-14 with four extra-base hits over his last four games. The designated hitter has added four RBI in that span. While he hasn't had a longer hit streak during August, he's also been able to keep his slumps short. The 30-year-old is up to 27 homers, 78 RBI, 86 runs scored, five stolen bases, 34 doubles, three triples and a .273/.345/.500 slash line across 137 games this season.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Getting Saturday off
Stanton isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.
Stanton will receive a day off Saturday after going 0-for-7 with a run scored and three strikeouts over the first two games of the series. It will instead be Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the outfield for New York, with Aaron Judge working as the DH.