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  • Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Halts skid, steals two bags in loss

    De La Cruz went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, two steals, a run scored and was caught stealing in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.

    Once again, De La Cruz filled up the box score. His fourth-inning single snapped an 0-for-17 slide, and he later delivered a run as part of the Reds' three-run seventh inning to tie the game at 4-4. His aggressiveness on the bases was also on display as he swiped his 22nd and 23rd bags; however, that aggression may have cost Cincinnati. After leading off the sixth with a walk and a steal, De La Cruz was caught trying to take third base and was not in scoring position when Jake Fraley singled later in the frame. That aggressiveness is something manger David Bell tolerates from De La Cruz, as he told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "Right there, he did have more time, but we've also seen him get to third with no outs and lead to a run," Bell said.

  • Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Enters starting lineup

    Alexander started at shortstop, batted ninth and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Thursday's 5-4 win over Cincinnati.

    Alexander made his first start in four games, as suspect defense kept his potentially productive bat (.845 OPS, .194 ISO) out of the lineup in favor of Kevin Newman (.525, .125). Alexander has cooled down recently at the plate, as the rookie is 1-for-13 over the last seven contests.

  • Nick Ahmed SS | TEX

    Giants' Nick Ahmed: Exits with wrist injury

    Ahmed was removed from Thursday's game against the Rockies due to left wrist discomfort, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

    Ahmed took an awkward-looking swing during his first at-bat, and he was later pinch hit for by Tyler Fitzgerald in the fourth inning. The Giants didn't specify the severity of Ahmed's injury, though it's possible the 34-year-old shortstop sits out another game or two as a precaution.

  • Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Two more pilfers in loss

    De La Cruz went 0-for-4 with two stolen bases in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

    After reaching base on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning, De La Cruz promptly stole second and third base, but the Reds couldn't bring him home. The 22-year-old phenom is up to 21 steals on the season, tops in the majors by a healthy margin -- second place is a three-way tie at 14 between Ronald Acuna, Brice Turang and Jose Caballero. De La Cruz has gone 0-for-15 over the last four games, but he still sports a .254/.356/.516 slash line on the season with eight homers, 19 RBI and 27 runs in 36 contests.

  • Oneil Cruz SS | PIT

    Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Another productive performance

    Cruz went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Angels.

    Cruz provided the majority of Pittsburgh's offense by delivering a double with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. He's had a productive start to Pittsburgh's homestead, collecting six hits in 18 at-bats while also homering twice and driving in seven. Even more important is that he has struck out only four times in that span, a significantly decreased rate from his 34.7 percent clip this season.

  • Kevin Newman 3B | LAA

    Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Heading to bench Thursday

    Newman is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

    Newman will retreat to the bench after he started each of the past three games at shortstop while going 3-for-12 with a run scored. Blaze Alexander will spell Newman at shortstop in the series finale.

  • Orlando Arcia SS | MIN

    Braves' Orlando Arcia: Homer, double in win

    Arcia went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo homer in Wednesday's win over Boston.

    The 29-year-old took Nick Pivetta deep in his first at-bat, going back-to-back with Marcell Ozuna as Atlanta jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Arcia then followed up another Ozuna home run with a double in the third but was left stranded. It marked the shortstop's 11th multi-hit performance of the season, though his previous one came back on April 26. He's also hit safely in four of his last five contests.

  • Kevin Newman 3B | LAA

    Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Moving into regular role

    Newman will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Reds.

    Newman will make his third straight start at shortstop -- all against right-handed pitching -- and looks to have supplanted Blaze Alexander as the Diamondbacks' preferred option at the position while the team waits for Geraldo Perdomo (knee) to return from the injured list. Though he's turned in a poor .559 OPS through 62 plate appearances with Arizona this season, Newman has been a much more polished defender at shortstop than Alexander.

  • Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Fading into reserve role

    Alexander is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

    Alexander is on the bench for a third straight game, with all three absences coming against right-handed pitching. The rookie has a lowly .544 OPS over his past nine games and has gotten poor reviews for his work in the field, so he looks like he'll remain in a backup role at shortstop behind Kevin Newman until Geraldo Perdomo (knee) is back from the injured list.

  • Tim Anderson 2B | LAA

    Marlins' Tim Anderson: Sits out Wednesday

    Anderson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Dodgers, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

    Anderson appears to be getting a routine day off while he's accumulated just one hit over his last four games. Vidal Brujan will slide over from second base to replace Anderson at shortstop.

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