MLB Player News
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Randal Grichuk RF | KC
Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Smacks fourth homer
Grichuk went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Giants.
Grichuk didn't homer at all in June, going just 9-for-50 (.180) over 17 games. The outfielder ended that power drought with a solo shot to pad the Diamondbacks' lead in the sixth inning of this contest. For the year, he's batting .246 with a .721 OPS, four homers, 16 RBI, 21 runs scored, 11 doubles and one triple across 146 plate appearances. Grichuk has been pressed into some extra playing time recently while Arizona's primary designated hitter, Pavin Smith, has had to cover for Josh Naylor (undisclosed) at first base. Once Naylor is healthy again, Grichuk will likely return to a short-side platoon role, as Jake McCarthy has stepped up in right field in the absence of Corbin Carroll (wrist).
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Seiya Suzuki RF | CHC
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Blasts 23rd home run
Suzuki went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Guardians.
Suzuki has been in a nice power groove recently, as he now has five home runs in his last nine games. For the season, the slugging outfielder has 23 long balls, which is a new career best, surpassing the 21 he hit in 2024. Suzuki is now sixth in the majors in home runs, while he's also second in the majors with 70 RBI. The 30-year-old remains a productive and consistent fantasy asset, reaching the 20-homer plateau the last three years.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Set to pitch again Saturday
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts clarified that Ohtani will make his next start as a pitcher Saturday against Houston, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Roberts seemed to suggest earlier Tuesday that Ohtani was in line to pitch in Sunday's series finale, but the skipper circled back and noted that the right-hander would be taking the hill Saturday. After tossing two innings and 27 pitches in his most recent start as a pitcher last weekend against the Royals, Ohtani will presumably be capped at around three or four innings as the Dodgers continue to build him up slowly in his return from his October 2023 Tommy John surgery. Justin Wrobleski is expected to work in bulk relief behind Ohtani on Saturday.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Expected to pitch Sunday
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is expected to make his next start as a pitcher Sunday versus the Astros, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani made his third start this past Saturday against the Royals, tossing two scoreless innings and 27 pitches as an opener. He could build up to three or four innings Sunday, but Justin Wrobleski is in line to work in bulk relief behind him and will be the Dodgers pitcher most likely to qualify for a win that day.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Suffers setback
Alvarez was shut down from all activities after reporting renewed soreness in his hand while taking swings Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez's fractured right hand has kept him on the injured list since early May. He seemed to be closing in on a return -- potentially as soon as this weekend -- but his setback throws a wrench in the Astros' plans. The 28-year-old slugger is due to visit a specialist within the next couple of days, at which point the team will know more regarding his status and how far away he may be from activation.
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Ben Rice C | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Taking seat Tuesday
Rice is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.
The lefty-hitting Rice had started in each of the Yankees' last seven matchups with right-handed pitchers, but he'll move to the bench Tuesday as Toronto sends righty Kevin Gausman to the hill. With a 143 wRC+ over 211 plate appearances versus righties this season, Rice has been far more productive in those matchups than the right-handed-hitting Paul Goldschmidt (73 wRC+ in 231 plate appearances), but Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn't yet ready to commit to a strict platoon between the two players at first base. Goldschmidt will get the nod at first base Tuesday, and he and Rice could both be occasionally included together in the lineup against righties if Rice is used at catcher or designated hitter.
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Austin Hays LF | CIN
Reds' Austin Hays: Knocks in three in defeat
Hays went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run and three RBI during Monday's 13-6 loss to the Red Sox.
Dating back to before his foot injury, Hays entered play in the midst of a 1-for-16 stretch, but he racked up seven total bases to spark the Reds offense. Those bases came courtesy of his first home run since May 16 and first triple since May 26. The Reds are certainly happy to have the 29-year-old's bat back in the lineup, as he's slashing .295/.336/.568 in 143 plate appearances this season.
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George Springer RF | TOR
Blue Jays' George Springer: Expected to play Tuesday
Manager John Schneider said after Monday's 5-4 win over the Yankees that Springer (undisclosed) is expected to be fine for Tuesday's game against New York, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Springer was injured on a slide into third base in the bottom of the sixth inning Monday and was promptly removed from the game in the top of the seventh, but it sounds like it was more for precautionary reasons. Springer has avoided a serious injury and isn't expected to require any further testing. The veteran outfielder is slashing .263/.360/.459 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 42 runs scored and nine stolen bases across 305 plate appearances this season.