MLB Player News
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Jose Fernandez SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jose Fernandez: Slumping after two-HR debut
Fernandez served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning win over Atlanta.
Fernandez was likely a popular free-agent addition in fantasy leagues following his MLB debut March 31, when he homered twice in a win over the Tigers. Since then, the 22-year-old has gone 1-for-12; however, he should stick around with the team and could see more opportunities after first baseman Carlos Santana (groin) was removed from Sunday's contest. Fernandez has appeared in five games (four starts) since his call-up, twice at first base and once each at third, shortstop and DH.
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Xander Bogaerts SS | SD
Padres' Xander Bogaerts: Reaches four times Sunday
Bogaerts went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk in Sunday's 8-6 victory versus Boston.
Though Bogaerts didn't score or knock in any runs, he at least helped prop up the batting average and OBP of fantasy teams by reaching in all four of his trips to the plate. That was a stark contract to his previous four games, during which Bogaerts went 0-for-16 with one walk. Even with Sunday's big performance, Bogaerts is slashing just .200/.243/.257 through nine contests. He's knocked in three runs but hasn't yet crossed the plate himself.
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Jackson Merrill SS | SD
Padres' Jackson Merrill: Slugs second homer Sunday
Merrill went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two additional runs in an 8-6 win against the Red Sox on Sunday.
Merrill and Manny Machado formed a potent 1-2 punch in the middle of San Diego's lineup, combining for five hits (including both Padres homers) and five RBI. Merrill's long ball was a clutch eighth-inning solo blast that snapped a 6-6 tie. The talented young outfielder came into Sunday batting a meager .185, but with the three-hit performance he is now slashing .250/.294/.469 through nine games while racking up six RBI and scoring seven runs.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Tallies fourth homer
Cruz went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, three RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Orioles.
Cruz delivered his third three-RBI performance in his last five games. He kicked off the effort with an infield single in the second inning before popping a two-run home run four frames later. More impressive was that this was Cruz's third long ball and sixth hit against a lefty this season, which comes directly after logging only 11 knocks across 125 plate appearances against southpaws in 2025.
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Dansby Swanson SS | CHC
Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Launches first home run
Swanson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 6-5 loss to the Guardians in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader.
It's been a rough start to the year for Swanson, who snapped an 0-for-10 slump across his previous three appearances with the long ball Sunday, which was his first of the season. Overall, he's batting just .138 with a .498 OPS through eight games. The veteran shortstop has gotten off to slow starts in the past, and the Cubs should give him a pretty long leash despite his struggles so far due to his proven track record.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Connects for first home run
Shaw went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in a 6-5 loss to the Guardians in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader.
Shaw continues to see ample playing time in right field with Seiya Suzuki (knee) still on the injured list. The 24-year-old hasn't done a ton offensively with a .217 batting average and .588 OPS across seven games, and his home run Sunday was his first of the year. Shaw should continue to be on the field most days, but Suzuki is working through a rehab assignment and should be back soon, which would likely push the former into more of a super-utility role.
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Matt McLain SS | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Logs first steal
McLain went 0-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 2-1 win over Texas.
McLain put himself in scoring position when he stole second base after leading off the eighth inning with a walk. He scored the game-winning run on an Elly De La Cruz single. The steal was the first in nine games for McLain, who had double-digit swipes in 2023 and 2025.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Involved in two runs
De La Cruz went 2-for-5 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.
De La Cruz had a hand in both Reds runs Sunday. He singled to lead off the fourth inning, advanced to second on a flyout to right field, and then came home on a single. In the eighth inning, he snapped a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single. De La Cruz has hit safely in eight of nine games while recording three home runs, five RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base.
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Masyn Winn SS | STL
Cardinals' Masyn Winn: Remaining on bench Sunday
Winn (hip) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Winn is sitting for a second straight game Sunday after departing Friday's contest due to left hip tightness. The shortstop is going through his full pre-game routine and could be back in the starting nine Monday in Washington, per Jones.
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Casey Schmitt SS | SF
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Absence continuing Sunday
Schmitt (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Schmitt will sit Sunday for a third consecutive game due to a sore back. Rafael Devers is covering first base in the series finale versus the Mets, allowing Jerar Encarnacion to pick up a start as the designated hitter.