MLB Player News
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Picking up RBI pace
Cruz went 0-for-4 with two RBI on Saturday against the White Sox.
Cruz went hitless but drove in a pair of runs on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly. Across his last 29 games, Cruz has 23 RBI --- over half of his total for the season. In that same span, he's also maintained a .260 average with seven home runs and three stolen bases.
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Diego Castillo 3B | MIN
Twins' Diego Castillo: Promotion pending
The Twins are expected to call up Castillo from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Minnesota is currently dealing with several injuries in the infield and Castillo is expected to take the 26-man roster spot of the IL-bound Jose Miranda (back). Castillo logged just one big-league at-bat last season and is slashing .269/.375/.399 with five homers and seven stolen bases across 283 games with St. Paul. The 26-year-old should see work at third base and could mix in at second base and shortstop if needed. The Twins will need to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Castillo.
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Elly De La Cruz SS | CIN
Reds' Elly De La Cruz: Cracks 16th homer
De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Marlins.
The Reds teed off on Edward Cabrera and the Miami bullpen for six combined homers, and De La Cruz got in on the fun with a long ball to the batter's eye in the third inning. De La Cruz has been managing a hand issue recently, but it hasn't cost him playing time -- his absence Thursday was said to be unrelated -- nor has it affected his performance. De La Cruz is a first-time All-Star and he's been a top-10 fantasy player so far this season on account of his .255/.345/.476 slash line, 16 homers, 41 RBI, 63 runs and 46 steals through 95 games.
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C.J. Abrams SS | WAS
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Clubs game-deciding homer
Abrams went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-5 win at Milwaukee.
The 23-year-old entered the contest in a 1-for-19 slump and started off 0-for-4 on Saturday, but he erased a one-run deficit in the ninth inning with a two-run homer off Brewers closer Trevor Megill. Abrams is batting just .183 through 13 games in July, but he still has a .269/.344/.486 slash line for the season to go along with 15 home runs, 48 RBI and 15 steals.
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Bo Bichette 3B | NYM
Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: On bench Saturday
Bichette (calf) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Bichette will be held out of the lineup for a third consecutive game due to a strained right calf. Leo Jimenez will bat ninth and play shortstop. Sunday will be Bichette's final chance to re-enter the starting lineup before the All-Star break.
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Carlos Correa SS | HOU
Twins' Carlos Correa: Scratched from lineup
Correa was scratched from the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants due to a bruised right heel, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Correa was initially slated to bat third and play short Saturday but was a late scratch as he tends to a bruised heel. In his place, Willi Castro will play shortstop while Ryan Jeffers enters the lineup, moving Christian Vazquez to third base. With just one game left before the All-Star break, the Twins could opt to play it safe with Correa and hold him out of Sunday's first-half finale.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Dealing with back injury
Baez was removed from Saturday's game against the Dodgers due to a lower-back injury, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Baez reportedly had no problems playing in the field, though his back prevented him from feeling comfortable while hitting. There's no telling if he'll be available for Sunday's series finale, but the Tigers may take a cautious approach and sit him down heading into the break.
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Ha-seong Kim 2B | ATL
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: Not starting Saturday
Kim is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup against Atlanta, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Kim will get a rest amidst a four-game mini-slump during which he's gone 2-for-12 with no walks. Tyler Wade is taking over at shortstop in Kim's stead.
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Brayan Rocchio SS | CLE
Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Resting Saturday
Rocchio isn't in the Guardians' lineup for Saturday's game versus Tampa Bay.
Rocchio will sit for the second game in a row Saturday coming off an 0-for-9 stretch during Cleveland's four-game series in Detroit. Daniel Schneemann will fill in at shortstop, allowing Angel Martinez to start in center field while batting second.