MLB Player News
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Anthony Volpe SS | NYY
Yankees' Anthony Volpe: Coming alive at plate
Volpe went 4-for-8 with a triple, three runs and an RBI across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis.
Volpe collected a pair of hits in each contest, and he's now logged five straight multi-hit performances. The rookie shortstop has increased his season batting average from .195 to .220 over that span while striking out just twice over 21 plate appearances. The Yankees have remained committed to giving Volpe near-everyday playing time even during his periods of struggle, and that commitment appears to be paying off given his recent surge.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Sitting again Sunday
Pena (neck) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Rangers, Chandler Rome of The Athleticreports.
Pena will sit for the third consecutive game as he continues to deal with neck stiffness. Mauricio Dubon will receive another start at shortstop for Houston.
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Jorge Mateo SS | ATL
Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Logs 22nd steal
Mateo stole a base as a pinch runner in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Twins.
Mateo started the game on the bench but ran for Adley Rutschman in the ninth inning with the Orioles down a run. Since Jordan Westburg came up from Triple-A Norfolk, Mateo's seen his playing time dwindle, to the point where Mateo may be stuck in a short-side platoon role. The shortstop didn't help his case to play more, hitting just .196 with six steals in June. He has a .220/.267/.350 slash line with 22 thefts, six home runs, 27 RBI and 37 runs scored over 235 plate appearances this season, though he's cooled off dramatically following a strong April.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Homers in Saturday's win
Crawford went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, two total RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Rays.
Four of Crawford's seven homers on the year have come over his last 10 games, despite him hitting a modest .257 (9-for-35) in that span. The shortstop drove in multiple runs for the second game in a row. He's slashing .246/.360/.383 with 30 RBI, 44 runs scored and one stolen base through 75 contests. Despite showing little in the way of speed, his decent contact and solid plate discipline have helped him stay atop the lineup regularly.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Doing fielding work
Neto (oblique) took grounders on the field prior to Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Neto has been sidelined since June 15, and his activity Saturday is his most strenuous since he was sidelined. There is still no timetable for his return, making it very likely that his activation from the injured list will come after the All-Star break.
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Jorge Mateo SS | ATL
Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Sitting again Saturday
Mateo isn't in the Orioles' lineup Saturday against the Twins.
Mateo's struggles at the plate appear to be costing him significant playing time, as Saturday marks his third consecutive absence from the starting lineup. Gunnar Henderson will start at shortstop while Jordan Westburg plays third base and Adam Frazier takes second.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Productive out of leadoff spot
Crawford went 1-for-3 with a two-run single and two walks in a loss to the Rays on Friday.
Crawford's two-run knock in the second inning brought home Jarred Kelenic and Cal Raleigh with what would turn out to be the Mariners' last two runs of the night. The 28-year-old finished June in a funk despite his production against the Rays -- Crawford hit just .163 (7-for-54) over the final 12 games of the month -- but he did also slug half of his six home runs on the season during that span while producing a solid .333 on-base percentage thanks to 11 walks.
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Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Laces pair of doubles in win
Diaz went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, another two-bagger and a run in a win over the White Sox on Friday.
The veteran infielder knocked in JJ Bleday with the Athletics' penultimate run of the night in the eighth inning, giving Diaz his fifth RBI of June. The 32-year-old's multi-hit effort was also his first since June 10, and despite his unsightly .206/.262/.286 slash line, he continues to find his way into the lineup on a near-everyday basis due to his ability to fill in across the infield and at designated hitter.