MLB Player News
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Zack Short SS | HOU
Astros' Zack Short: Pops homer in loss
Short went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 15-3 loss to the Athletics.
Short kept the Astros from getting shut out when he went deep off Jeffrey Springs in the fifth inning. Since the All-Star break, Short is batting .188 (3-for-16) over seven games. The infielder is up to a .243/.300/.459 slash line with two homers, seven RBI, seven runs scored, no stolen bases and two doubles over 40 plate appearances this season. He is seeing a little more than a short-side platoon role at shortstop to help cover the absence of Jeremy Pena (ribs), who began facing live pitching earlier this week and should be close to a return. Once Pena is healthy, Short could be an option to fill in at third base while Isaac Paredes (hamstring) is on the mend.
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Colson Montgomery SS | CHW
White Sox's Colson Montgomery: Goes deep in third straight game
Montgomery went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 12-5 win over the Cubs.
Montgomery clubbed his third homer of the season, going deep in his third straight game while extending his hitting streak to five games as well. The 23-year-old rookie slugger is splitting time at shortstop and third base in Chicago's infield, and he's off to quite a promising start in his major-league career. Montgomery is slashing .273/.344/.509 with two doubles, one triple and 13 RBI through 62 plate appearances, and his stock is beginning to rise for fantasy managers in need of power at a premium position in deeper leagues.
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Ha-seong Kim 2B | ATL
Rays' Ha-Seong Kim: Back on IL
The Rays placed Kim on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a low back strain, retroactive to Tuesday.
Kim left Monday's game against the White Sox due to lower-back tightness, and he will go on the IL after missing the Rays' last three games. It's the 29-year-old's second stint on the IL this season after he missed the first half of the year while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, plus a calf injury in early July has limited him to just 10 games with the Rays this year. Kim did go through a pregame workout before Friday's contest against the Reds, so he could be facing a short stint on the IL. The Rays reinstated Jonny DeLuca (shoulder) from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Resting Friday
Henderson is not in the Orioles' starting lineup against the Rockies on Friday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Henderson will get a rest day, with Jackson Holliday shifting over to shortstop and Jordan Westburg starting at second base. Henderson has slashed .277/.324/.462 with four steals, one home run and seven RBI in 70 plate appearances since the beginning of July.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Starting in return from IL
The Guardians activated Arias (ankle) from the 10-day injured list, and he's starting at shortstop and batting sixth Friday against the Royals.
The 25-year-old landed on the shelf at the start of July due to an ankle sprain but is ready to rejoin the Guardians after a four-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus. Arias should take over as Cleveland's primary shortstop, though his .231/.293/.369 slash line through 77 games this season likely won't provide much job security.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Back in lineup
Witt (knee) is batting second and playing shortstop Friday against Cleveland.
Witt was precautionarily held out of Wednesday's game with a minor knee injury that popped up Tuesday. After a team off day, he'll be back in action Friday. Witt is slashing .288/.339/.489 in 443 plate appearances this season.
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Ha-seong Kim 2B | ATL
Rays' Ha-Seong Kim: Out of lineup Friday
Kim (back) isn't part of the starting nine for Friday's game against the Reds, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Kim will be out of the lineup for a third straight game since suffering a back injury Monday. Taylor Walls will draw another start at shortstop Friday. Kim reported lower-back tightness Monday after making an awkward throw to first base.
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Brayan Rocchio SS | CLE
Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Competition coming
Rocchio could see a drop in playing time if Gabriel Arias (ankle) is activated this weekend as expected.
Rocchio has performed much better during his second stint in the majors this season and has made a case for sticking on the MLB roster. He opened the year as Cleveland's starter at shortstop, but after posting a .433 OPS through 35 games, he was demoted to Triple-A Columbus in early May. Rocchio had an .837 OPS for the Clippers and a .709 mark since his recall in early July when Arias was placed on the 10-day injured list.
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Gabriel Arias SS | CLE
Guardians' Gabriel Arias: Could return this weekend
Arias (ankle) could be activated off the 10-day injured list ahead of this weekend's series against the Royals, MLB.com reports.
Arias has played four games so far on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus, including two consecutive nine-inning contests at shortstop Tuesday and Wednesday. The back-to-back work in the field suggests his activation is imminent. Prior to the injury, Arias operated as the Guardians' primary shortstop, having replaced a struggling Brayan Rocchio, but it's unclear if he'll return in the same role. Rocchio, who was called up when Arias landed on the IL in early July, has hit .254 (15-for-59) with a .709 OPS, eight extra-base hits and 11 RBI over 20 games. Those results are much better than what he posted over the first 35 games of the season, and which got him demoted in early May.