MLB Player News
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Mark Vientos DH | NYM
Mets' Mark Vientos: Not in lineup vs. righty
Vientos is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
With right-hander Aaron Nola toeing the slab for the Phillies, Mets manager Buck Showalter will roll with the lefty-hitting Daniel Vogelbach in the designated-hitter spot. Vientos has started seven of the Mets' 13 games since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, but only three of those starts have come versus right-handed pitching.
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Ji-Man Choi 1B | NYM
Pirates' Ji-Man Choi: Continues to make progress
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Choi (Achilles) is participating in "about all" baseball activities in his rehab, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Choi was able to start fielding grounders last week as he recovers from his left Achilles strain, and he's since been able to ramp up his activities even more, with Tomczyk also mentioning that the 32-year-old has started a running progression, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The veteran first baseman was transferred to the 60-day injured list in April, so the earliest he'll be able to return to the Pittsburgh lineup is around mid-June.
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Christopher Morel 1B | MIA
Cubs' Christopher Morel: Hits bench again Wednesday
Morel is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
The slumping Morel will head to the bench for the second time in the series, opening up a spot in the lineup for Miles Mastrobuoni at second base while Nico Hoerner gets a day out of the field and serves as the Cubs' designated hitter. After slugging nine home runs and driving in 15 runs in his first 12 games with the Cubs following his promotion from Triple-A Iowa on May 8, Morel has gone 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts and one walk over his last five starts.
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Miguel Cabrera DH | DET
Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: Three hits Tuesday
Cabrera went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's loss against the Rangers.
Cabrera set a season high with three hits against the Rangers, snapping a 2-for-24 stretch. His fifth-inning double was also his first extra-base hit since April 12. Overall, it's been a tough year for the 40-year-old Cabrera. He's now slashing just .196/.272/.239 with seven RBI and no home runs through 103 plate appearances.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Doubles twice, drives in three
Carpenter went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 victory over the Marlins.
Carpenter got San Diego on the board with an RBI double off Sandy Alcantara in the fourth inning, tying the game 1-1. He'd drive in another two runs with his second double in the ninth inning, extending the Padres' lead to 8-4. It's a step in the right direction for Carpenter, who'd been stuck in an 0-for-19 slump coming into Tuesday's contest. He's still slashing just .184/.307/.368 with four home runs and 24 RBI through 137 plate appearances while platooning with Nelson Cruz at DH.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Dodgers' J.D. Martinez: Goes yard again Tuesday
Martinez went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Nationals.
Martinez extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his seventh-inning blast. He's batting .333 (20-for-60) in that span, and he's gone deep in three straight games and five of his last eight. The designated hitter's surge has him up to a .277/.312/.610 slash line with 12 long balls, 39 RBI, 25 runs scored and 13 doubles through 40 contests this season. He remains a fixture in the heart of the Dodgers' potent lineup.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Removed with stomach ailment
Belt was removed in the eighth inning of Tuesday's game against the Brewers with a stomach issue, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
The Blue Jays have had several players deal with stomach issues in 2023, and unfortunately Belt is the latest. The left-handed hitting veteran should be considered day-to-day at this point.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Sitting second straight
Rooker isn't starting Tuesday against Atlanta.
Rooker has been one of the few bright spots in Oakland's lineup all season, but a prolonged slump at the plate will cost him to miss his second consecutive start. Ramon Laureano will instead serve as Oakland's designated hitter Tuesday, allowing JJ Bleday to start in left field and bat sixth.
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Darin Ruf DH | MIL
Brewers' Darin Ruf: In leadoff spot Tuesday
Ruf is serving as the Brewers' designated hitter and batting leadoff Tuesday night against the Blue Jays.
Ruf could be in for an uptick in playing time with Jesse Winker landing on the injured list Tuesday due to a cervical strain. The 36-year-old got a turn at leadoff last Friday versus the Giants and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
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Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Absent from lineup Tuesday
Harper is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Mets.
This is a planned day of physical and mental rest for Harper, who went hitless (but drew three walks) over the final three games of the Phillies' four-game weekend series at Atlanta. Kyle Schwarber will take a turn out of the DH spot Tuesday in Queens and Dalton Guthrie will cover left field.