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Yu Chang SS | TB
Indians' Yu Chang: Hits bench Sunday
Chang is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Owen Miller will step in at first base for Chang, who started each of the past three games at the position and went 2-for-11 with a triple, a double, two RBI and two runs. Chang's path to regular playing time at first base will likely be blocked soon, as Bobby Bradley (personal) could return from the bereavement list during the upcoming week.
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Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Bashes two long balls
Diaz went 2-for-4 with two home runs and an additional RBI in Saturday's 8-6 loss to San Francisco.
Diaz was caught up in the homer dome at Oracle Park, as the two teams combined for eight long balls. Since being activated off the injured list, Diaz is 8-for-19 with three home runs, eight RBI and six runs scored. He continues to slot in at third base while Alex Bregman (quadriceps) is on a rehab assignment.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts: Clubs 16th homer
Bogaerts went 1-for-2 with two walks and a two-run home run in Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Rays.
He took Ryan Yarbrough deep in the first inning, helping Boston to an early 3-0 lead that quickly evaporated. It's the shortstop's first homer since the All-Star break and 16th of the season, a good sign that his wrist is feeling better, but Bogaerts is slashing only .220/.292/.341 to begin the second half.
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Wander Franco SS | TB
Rays' Wander Franco: Hitting stride at plate
Franco, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run double, a triple and a run in a win over the Red Sox on Friday, owns a .303/.361/.424 slash line over the 36 plate appearances covering his last eight games.
Arguably just as important is the fact Franco has struck out at a modest 16.7 percent rate in that sample after carrying a more elevated 22.7 percent figure in his first 20 big-league contests. The more consistent contact lends credence to the notion the phenom is quickly adapting to the intricacies of facing big-league arms, just as he did at every minor-league stop during his meteoric rise through the organizational ranks.
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Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Raking since return
Diaz went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over San Franciso.
Diaz's solo shot in the ninth gave Houston breathing room, as the Giants did not fold after falling behind 7-2 in the sixth inning. He's had multiple hits in all three games since being activated off the injured list and will continue as the fill-in at third base for the injured Alex Bregman (quadriceps).
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Bo Bichette 3B | NYM
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Mashes 19th homer
Bichette went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 6-4 win over the Royals.
The young shortstop capped the scoring on the night for the Jays by taking Domingo Tapia the other way in the seventh inning. Bichette has been on fire lately, posting four multi-hit performances in the last seven games while slashing .423/.500/.808 with three homers and three steals. On the season, he's batting .298 with 19 home runs, 16 stolen bases, 71 RBI and 81 runs through 100 games.
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Tim Anderson 2B | LAA
White Sox's Tim Anderson: Day off Thursday
Anderson will sit Thursday against the Royals.
This appears to be nothing more than a routine day off for the star shortstop. Danny Mendick will slide over to the position in his absence, with Andrew Vaughn starting at second base.
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Joey Wendle 2B | ATL
Rays' Joey Wendle: Not in Thursday's lineup
Wendle will sit Thursday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wendle hits the bench even with the right-handed Gerrit Cole on the mound for the Yankees. Yandy Diaz gets the start at third base.
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Aledmys Diaz 1B | HOU
Astros' Aledmys Diaz: Knocks in three
Diaz went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Wednesday's 11-4 win over the Mariners.
Diaz continues to fill in for the injured Alex Bregman (quadriceps), who remains on a rehab assignment that should run through next week. In the two games since coming off his own stay on the injured list, Diaz has four hits, two doubles, four RBI and two runs over 11 plate appearances.