MLB Player News
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Michael Brantley LF | HOU
Astros' Michael Brantley: Makes return from IL
The Astros reinstated Brantley (knee) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's game against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Reliever Josh James was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to clear a spot on the active roster for Brantley, who has been on the shelf since Sept. 15 with right knee soreness. Since Houston has essentially locked up the American League West title and is well positioned to finish as the league's No. 2 seed in the playoffs, Brantley may sit out a couple times during the Astros' final five games of the regular season, but he should be ready for a full-time role during the postseason.
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Brad Miller DH | SD
Phillies' Brad Miller: On bench Wednesday
Miller isn't starting Wednesday's game against Atlanta, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Miller had drawn starts in each of the last five games, but he'll get a breather after he went 0-for-5 with two walks and two strikeouts across the last two contests. Matt Vierling will start at first base and bat sixth.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Twins' Brent Rooker: Day off Wednesday
Rooker isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Rooker will get a breather after he went 1-for-6 with a walk and four strikeouts across his last three appearances. Jake Cave will start in left field and bat eighth.
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Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Braves' Jorge Soler: Plates two Tuesday
Soler went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Phillies.
Though Phillies ace Zack Wheeler was sharp for most of the night, Soler made him pay in the third inning, when he stroked a liner to left field to plate Travis d'Arnaud and Dansby Swanson. Soler has been a huge addition for Atlanta, which acquired him from the Royals ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. Through 51 games with his new team, Soler has hit .265 with 12 home runs, 31 RBI and 31 runs.
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Alex Dickerson DH | ATL
Giants' Alex Dickerson: X-rays negative on foot
Dickerson was hit by a pitch on the foot during Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, but X-rays afterward returned negative, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Dickerson stayed in the game after pinch hitting for pitcher Jose Alvarez, and the outfielder scored a run when Buster Posey drew a bases-loaded walk. Since he's likely dealing with soreness in the foot rather than any broken bones, Dickerson shouldn't be sidelined more than a day or two at most.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Homers again
Stanton went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a double during Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays.
Stanton crushed a 421-footer against Trevor Richards in the seventh inning to extend New York's lead. It was his fourth homer in as many games and his 10th of the month, raising his season total to 35 while he's batting .278/.359/.527.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Moves to injured list
Belt (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Sept. 27.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with a fractured left thumb Monday, and it's not much of a surprise to see him making his way to the injured list. Belt hasn't been given an official timeline for his return and will be reevaluated week-to-week, though according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, it's expected to take about four weeks for the fracture to heal.
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Darin Ruf DH | MIL
Giants' Darin Ruf: Return expected Thursday
Ruf (oblique) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Thursday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
The 35-year-old has been progressing well in his recovery since landing on the IL last week with a strained right oblique, and he's trending toward a minimum stay on the shelf. Ruf could see increased playing time at first base along with LaMonte Wade once activated, as Brandon Belt recently suffered a fractured thumb.
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Alex Dickerson DH | ATL
Giants' Alex Dickerson: On bench Tuesday
Dickerson is not starting Tuesday against Arizona, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Brandon Belt's (finger) move to the injured list was expected to lead to more starts for Dickerson against righty starters, but the outfielder will begin Tuesday's game on the bench with right-hander Luke Weaver taking the ball for the Diamondbacks. LaMonte Wade shifts to first base as Kris Bryant, Steven Duggar and Mike Yastrzemski man the outfield from left to right.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Leave extended through postseason
Ozuna (finger) had his administrative leave extended through the end of the postseason Tuesday, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Ozuna landed on the injured list with broken fingers in late May and was arrested on aggravated assault and family violence charges shortly thereafter. He entered a diversion program in early September which could see those charges dropped, but the league can come to its own conclusion regarding any potential suspension regardless of the court's decision. MLB's investigation is ongoing, so he hasn't been officially suspended yet, but he now won't play until sometime next season at the earliest.