MLB Player News
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Homers again in win
Seager went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Mariners.
Seager gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the third inning with a 420-foot homer, marking his first time going deep in consecutive games this season. The shortstop appears to be heating up, hitting safely in six of his past seven contests with three homers, six RBI and six runs scored. While he's slashing a modest .243/.342/.418 with nine long balls, 20 RBI, 25 runs scored and one stolen base across 198 plate appearances, the 31-year-old's track record and .286 xBA point to better days ahead.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Out of lineup again Saturday
Neto (shoulder) isn't in the starting lineup against the Nationals on Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Neto is beginning on the bench for a third straight game after jamming his shoulder while attempting to steal a base Tuesday. The 24-year-old did appear as a pinch hitter Friday, striking out in the seventh inning, but he didn't play the field following that at-bat. Neto may be available off the bench again Saturday, though he'll likely need to be able to throw without pain before returning to work on defense. Fletcher notes that Neto did throw a bit Saturday and is hoping to return to the lineup Tuesday in Atlanta.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Not in Saturday's lineup
Pena (ribs) is not in the Astros' starting lineup against the Cubs on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pena was plunked in the ribs during Friday's win over the Cubs. X-rays came back negative, but he'll be absent from Saturday's starting nine and is considered day-to-day. Mauricio Dubon will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Appears as pinch hitter Friday
Neto (shoulder) struck out in a plate appearance as a pinch hitter in Friday's loss to Washington.
A shoulder injury has kept Neto out of the starting lineup for the Angels' past two games, though his ability to bat as a pinch hitter Friday suggests that a stint on the IL probably isn't in order. An MRI on Neto's shoulder came back negative, but as of Friday he hadn't yet tested the shoulder by throwing a baseball, according to Doug Padilla of The Orange County Register. Neto will probably need to check off that box before returning to the lineup, though the talented shortstop said that he's "moving in the right direction." He should be considered day-to-day for the time being.
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Trey Sweeney SS | DET
Tigers' Trey Sweeney: Heading to Triple-A
The Tigers optioned Sweeney to Triple-A Toledo following Friday's 4-1 loss to the Twins.
Sweeney will give up his spot on the 26-man active roster for outfielder/infielder Matt Vierling (shoulder), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Sweeney has a .594 OPS with two steals, four home runs and 23 RBI in 225 plate appearances this season, and he had seen his playing time diminish since Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez returned from the IL in early June, which resulted in Javier Baez shifting from the outfield to shortstop. Sweeney will get more regular playing time in Triple-A and could be recalled by the Tigers should they need to bolster their depth in the infield later on this season.
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Collects two hits in loss
Smith started at first base and went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double and a two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Mariners.
Smith made a third consecutive start at first base with Jake Burger (oblique) on the 10-day injured list. All three starts have come against righties, which is the typical pattern for the lefty-hitting Smith. June is shaping up to his best month, as he sports a .910 OPS with 10 extra-base hits and nine RBI over 19 games this month.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Slugs eighth homer
Seager went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and three walks during Friday's 7-6 loss to the Mariners.
Seager sent his eighth home run out of the yard in the first inning and also drew a season-high three walks. The 31-year-old has a homer and RBI in back-to-back contests, and he has now driven in 18 on the season. It's been a down season for the 11-year veteran, as his .242/.336/.403 slash line is on track to be his worst as a big leaguer.
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Bobby Witt SS | KC
Royals' Bobby Witt: Launches 11th home run
Witt went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Witt's two-run home run clinched the 25-year-old's first multi-RBI outing in 15 games. At just over the halfway point of the season, the young shortstop is piecing together another good campaign, slashing .277/.332/.483 and driving in 42 on the season which puts him on pace for 84 on the year. Those numbers aren't quite at the same level as last regular season, when he put up a .977 OPS and 109 RBI.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Three knocks Friday
Crawford went 3-for-6 with two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 extra-innings win over Texas.
Crawford tallied multiple hits for the 10th time in the month of June. The 30-year-old shortstop has led off for the Mariners consistently since the end of April, batting .286 with four home runs, eight doubles, 22 runs scored, 31 walks and four stolen bases across his last 196 at-bats (50 games).
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Gunnar Henderson 3B | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Four hits, triple in huge win
Henderson went 4-for-6 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a triple in Friday's 22-8 victory over the Rays.
The triple was Henderson's third of the year, and he piled up a season-high four knocks. The star shortstop got off to a rough start at the plate following a delayed beginning to the year due to an intercostal injury, as he was batting .220 and slugging .380 through April 18, but he's rounded into form since. Over his last 264 plate appearances, Henderson is slashing .292/.375/.459 with 21 extra-base hits, 24 RBI, 35 runs scored and seven stolen bases.