MLB Player News
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Alex Dickerson DH | ATL
Giants' Alex Dickerson: Sitting versus southpaw
Dickerson is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus Colorado, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Dickerson will take a seat for the second straight game with left-hander Austin Gomber starting for the Rockies. Austin Slater, Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski will start from left to right in the outfield for the Giants.
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Mark Canha LF | TEX
Athletics' Mark Canha: On base three times in loss
Canha went 1-for-3 with two walks in a loss to the Astros on Thursday.
The Athletics' season is off to a nightmarish start, but Canha's work out of the leadoff spot has been encouraging. The veteran has a .361 on-base percentage and 11.1 percent walk rate through his first 36 plate appearances. Three of Canha's seven hits -- a double, a triple and a home run -- have gone for extra bases as well, making him a well-rounded option atop the order.
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Luis Torrens C | NYM
Mariners' Luis Torrens: Three hits in latest start
Torrens went 3-for-4 with a double and a run in a loss to the Twins on Thursday.
Torrens' second two-bagger of the season helped push his season average to .333, with the 24-year-old having hit safely in three of his first four starts. Torrens and Tom Murphy project to continue splitting time behind the dish fairly evenly, with each logging the same number of starts thus far.
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Yermin Mercedes DH | SF
White Sox's Yermin Mercedes: Continues sizzling start
Mercedes went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the 6-0 win Thursday over the Royals.
Mercedes keeps stealing the show in his astonishing and unexpected start to the season. After resting Wednesday, the rookie slammed a 485 foot home run in the first inning off Brad Keller. While Mercedes won't be able to keep up this hitting pace (15-for-27) all season, it is quite the start for a player who wasn't expected to get everyday at-bats.
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Michael Brantley LF | HOU
Astros' Michael Brantley: Singles in return
Brantley went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 6-2 win over Oakland.
This was Brantley's first appearance since last Saturday when he was hit by a pitch on the wrist. He was back in a familiar spot, batting second between Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Angels' Shohei Ohtani: Scratched with blister
Ohtani will not make his next start Sunday against Toronto due to a blister, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Ohtani survived an injury scare in his last start but will now be skipped in the rotation. The team is still assessing whether he will be able to pitch in the team's series with the Royals beginning Monday. The news shifts the Angels' rotation, with Jose Quintana taking the mound Saturday and Alex Cobb on Sunday.
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Crushes home run
Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo homer in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.
Alvarez cracked his second homer of the season in the sixth inning against Cole Irvin. The 23-year-old is slashing .333/.364/.667 in the heart of a dynamic Astros lineup, and if he can stay healthy, he should be in line for a huge campaign.
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Byron Buxton CF | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: Belts fourth homer
Buxton went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and another run scored during Thursday's victory over Seattle.
After doubling in the first inning, Buxton extended Minnesota's lead with his solo shot off Marco Gonzales in the fifth. The long ball was No. 4 of the year for the 27-year-old outfielder, who is off to a strong start, batting .421 with five RBI.
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Michael Brantley LF | HOU
Astros' Michael Brantley: Returns to lineup
Brantley (wrist) is starting Thursday's game against Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brantley sat out the last three games after he was hit by a pitch Saturday, but he'll play left field and bat second for Thursday's series opener against the Athletics. The veteran went 6-for-9 with a home run, four doubles, two RBI and five runs in the first three games of the year.
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Darin Ruf DH | MIL
Giants' Darin Ruf: Slugs second homer, steals bag
Ruf went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base Wednesday against the Padres.
Ruf was in the lineup in place of Alex Dickerson with lefty Blake Snell on the mound. He launched his second home run of the season, both of which have come against southpaws. He'll likely continue to get his at-bats primarily against left-handers, meaning Dickerson should see the majority of playing time in left field as the season wears on.