MLB Player News
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Max Schuemann 2B | NYY
Athletics' Max Schuemann: Rough start in leadoff role
Schuemann hit leadoff in both of the Athletics' games against the Twins over the weekend after Abraham Toro's (hamstring) placement on the injured list, going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts.
Schuemann, who went into Saturday's game having reached safely in four straight, may not be long for the top of the order given the results, although manager Mark Kotsay might exhibit some patience. Toro has put together a .240 average and .613 OPS as the leadoff hitter this season, so the standard he's set isn't extraordinarily high by any means. Nevertheless, there are several other candidates Kotsay could turn to for the role, so Schuemann, who's most frequently hit in the No. 7 and No. 9 spots this season, could soon shift back down the order.
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Oneil Cruz SS | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Swipes sixth bag
Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base Sunday against the Rays.
Cruz made plenty of highlights Saturday by blasting a home run into the Allegheny River, but he's slumped with only two hits across 19 at-bats during Pittsburgh's current homestand. He did manage to tally his sixth stolen base of the season Sunday, his first since returning from ankle soreness that caused him to miss games on June 14th and 15th.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Homer, steal in win
Lindor went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Cubs.
Lindor opened the scoring with his third-inning blast. The shortstop has been showcasing all of his skills in June, going 21-for-76 (.276) with four homers, five steals and 10 RBI over 19 contests this month. It's a strong turnaround for the 30-year-old, who is slashing .241/.310/.433 with 13 homers, 39 RBI, 49 runs scored, 20 doubles and 13 steals through 76 games overall.
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Matt McLain SS | CIN
Reds' Matt McLain: Progressing in recovery
Manager David Bell indicated this weekend that McLain, who underwent shoulder surgery in late March, should be ready to start swinging a bat soon, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "He's pretty close," Bell said. When he starts swinging, there will be a step-by-step progression from dry swinging to tee work to soft toss, etc. "It's a very well-thought out progression that he'll have to take his time with."
Bell alluded to McLain being ready for action at some point in August but also noted it's a long process between now and then. The 2021 first-rounder hit 16 home runs with an .864 OPS in his rookie season last year over 403 plate appearances, so his return could potentially give the Reds, a team that ranks just 21st in OPS, some extra pop down the stretch.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Doubles twice, drives in three
Pena went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's win against the Orioles.
Pena hit an RBI double in the first inning before knocking a two-run double in the sixth. He'd been stuck in a 6-for-49 (.122) slump since his last multi-hit game June 5. Pena's homerless drought has now reached 31 games, and he's attempted only one steal in his last 15 contests. Still, he bumped his season slash line up to .280/.316/.382 through 314 plate appearances.
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Zach McKinstry 3B | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Goes deep in easy win
McKinstry went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Sunday's 11-2 win over the White Sox.
McKinstry was one of four Detroit players to go deep and perhaps the most surprising one, as this was just his second of the season across 51 games. The utility player is batting only .185, and while he's seeing more playing time right now with Javier Baez (back) on the injured list, McKinstry may be better suited to a reserve role due to his limited offensive abilities.
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Dylan Moore 2B | TEX
Mariners' Dylan Moore: Sitting Sunday
Moore is out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Marlins.
Moore will get a rest Sunday after going 2-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 9-0 win over Miami. Ryan Bliss will start at second base and bat ninth against Marlins right-hander Kyle Tyler.
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Dylan Moore 2B | TEX
Mariners' Dylan Moore: Laces pair of doubles Saturday
Moore went 2-for-5 with an RBI double, another two-bagger and two runs in a win over the Marlins on Saturday.
The Mariners gave Julio Rodriguez the night off, but Moore had no trouble helping make up for the slugger's absence by authoring one of four multi-hit efforts for Seattle. The pair of extra-base hits were right on brand for Moore, who's hit a double or better on 24 of his 42 knocks this season to put him just one XBH away from tying a career-best figure in that category.
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Livan Soto SS | BAL
Reds' Livan Soto: Recalled to majors
The Reds recalled Soto from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
Soto has remained at Louisville since he was claimed off waivers from Baltimore in April, slashing .299/.393/.372 with 19 RBI across 191 plate appearances. He doesn't have a clear path to playing time in Cincinnati's infield, so he'll likely occupy the bench as a depth piece. Austin Wynns was designated for assignment in order to clear a spot on the active roster.