MLB Player News
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Completes five innings, nabs win
Ohtani (1-1) earned the win over Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out nine batters over five innings.
Ohtani gave up a solo homer to Noelvi Marte in the third inning, but the Reds otherwise weren't able to do much against him. The two-way star got 14 whiffs on his 87 pitches and fanned a season-high nine batters. Of note, Ohtani threw 23 curveballs Wednesday -- per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, which blew away his previous career-high total of 16. It's equally important that Ohtani was allowed to finish the fifth inning -- it was the first time this season he's gone that deep, which by rule means it's the first time he was able to qualify for a victory. That's a significant development for fantasy managers, as the Japanese superstar should be able to help in that category moving forward while potentially building upon his already impressive 44:7 K:BB through 32.1 frames.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Rangers' Joc Pederson: Stays hot in blowout
Pederson went 2-for-6 with a three-run home run, two additional RBI and two additional runs scored during Wednesday's 20-3 win over the Angels.
Pederson lifted his fifth home run of August with a three-run blast off Jack Kochanowicz in the second inning and extended his hit streak to seven games. The 33-year-old slugger set season highs in runs scored and RBI during the offensive outburst. His previous best RBI total was two. During his hit streak, Pederson has gone 9-for-28 (.321) with nine RBI and five runs scored.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: First homer since IL stint
Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 4-0 win over Colorado.
Alvarez was activated from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener and went hitless with two walks in four plate appearances in his return. He walked twice more Wednesday and delivered his first hit since coming back by launching a two-run home run off Angel Chivilli in the fourth inning. Alvarez slashed .210/.306/.340 with three home runs across 121 plate appearances before being placed on the injured list back in May.
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Pavin Smith RF | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Exits with trainer
Smith was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to left quadriceps tightness.
Smith tweaked his quad while running out of the batter's box after hitting a single in the seventh inning, and he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. The severity of his injury remains unclear, but more details may emerge after the game. If the 29-year-old ends up needing to miss time, Tyler Locklear would be the next man up to start at first base.
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Ben Rice 1B | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Goes yard again Wednesday
Rice went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Nationals.
The Yankees launched six homers in total on the afternoon, with Rice's coming off Shinnosuke Ogasawara as part of a nine-run third inning -- only his sixth long ball of the season off a left-hander, compared to 16 off righties. Rice has bashed his way into a strong-side platoon role for New York as he splits his time between first base and catcher, and over his last 10 games he's batting .353 (12-for-34) with a double, a triple, five homers, eight runs and 11 RBI.
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Miguel Andujar RF | SD
Reds' Miguel Andujar: Losing grip on everyday role
Andujar is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Dodgers.
Andujar has now been absent from the lineup for each of the last four and five of the last six contests in which the Reds have faced a right-handed pitcher. He has retained his role as the cleanup hitter against lefties during that span, but the 30-year-old looks to be settling back into the short side of a platoon.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Mets' Jesse Winker: Kicks off rehab assignment
Winker (back) was cleared to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Single-A St. Lucie, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Though no reports indicated that Winker had resumed baseball activities, the 32-year-old evidently made enough progress behind the scenes over the last few days for the Mets to clear him for a rehab assignment. He'll start at designated hitter for St. Lucie on Wednesday and likely remain in the minors for several more games in order to stockpile at-bats and prove that his back won't be an issue if he's needed for spot duty in the corner outfield. Though Winker could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in September, the Mets may not be willing to open up regular playing time for him, especially while the team is getting good results from its current DH duo of Mark Vientos and Starling Marte. Winker slashed an unremarkable .229/.309/.400 in 81 plate appearances in the majors prior to being shut down with the back issue.
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Trevor Larnach LF | MIN
Twins' Trevor Larnach: Exiting starting nine
Larnach is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Toronto.
The left-handed-hitting Larnach doesn't always sit against lefties, but he'll take a seat Wednesday as the Blue Jays send southpaw Eric Lauer to the bump. Edouard Julien -- who also swings left-handed -- will be in the designated-hitter spot and will bat ninth for the Twins.
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Josh Bell DH | MIN
Nationals' Josh Bell: Out again versus lefty
Bell is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Yankees.
Southpaw Max Fried will toe the rubber for the Yankees, marking the third straight time that the switch-hitting Bell has been out of the lineup against a lefty. Andres Chaparro will play first base in the series finale.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Taking seat Wednesday
Ozuna is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Miami.
Ozuna has followed a hot stretch with another slump, having gone 3-for-30 with 13 strikeouts over his last nine contests. He'll get a day off to regroup while Ronald Acuna serves as Atlanta's designated hitter and Jake Fraley (knee) plays right field.