MLB Player News
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Mookie Betts SS | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Getting breather Thursday
Betts is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Milwaukee, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Betts started the first three games of the series -- his first three contests back from from the injured list -- but will take a seat for Thursday's afternoon finale. Jason Heyward will patrol right field for the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernandez will move up to the second spot in the batting order.
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Zach McKinstry SS | DET
Tigers' Zach McKinstry: Retreating to bench
McKinstry is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.
McKinstry will hit the bench for the series finale after he had started in each of Detroit's last three games while going 3-for-12 with two doubles, one walk and two runs across those contests. Though McKinstry's bat has warmed up in August, the Tigers still seem to view him mostly as a utility player. His playing time is likely to take a hit once Detroit gets Riley Greene (hamstring) back from the injured list, perhaps as soon as this weekend or early next week.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Back in lineup Thursday
Baez (hip) will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Thursday's game versus the Mariners.
Baez was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's 3-2 win over Seattle due to a hip issue, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Thursday's series finale. The Tigers will be going for a three-game sweep.
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Gunnar Henderson SS | BAL
Orioles' Gunnar Henderson: Launches homer No. 30
Henderson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Nationals.
The 23-year-old shortstop took DJ Herz deep in the first inning, and it proved to be all the offense that Dean Kremer and the Baltimore bullpen would need. Henderson is slashing .306/.358/.490 through 12 games in August, and Wednesday's homer gave him 30 for the season, the first time -- but almost certainly not the last -- he's reached that mark in his career.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Four straight two-hit games
Lindor went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two total run scored in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the Athletics.
Lindor logged multiple hits for the fourth game in a row and the sixth time during his active eight-game hitting streak. He also snapped a power drought with his first homer since July 25. The star shortstop is up to a .263/.336/.465 slash line, 23 homers, 69 RBI, 79 runs scored, 24 stolen bases and 30 doubles across 120 contests, providing well-rounded production out of the leadoff spot.
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Taylor Walls SS | TB
Rays' Taylor Walls: Two steals in Wednesday's loss
Walls went 1-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and one run scored in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Astros.
Walls had one of the Rays' two hits in the contest. The shortstop has managed to log four steals on five attempts over 11 games in August while batting .269 (7-for-26) this month. It's a welcome sign of success at the plate when compared to his meager .169/.290/.231 slash line for the year. Walls has added nine steals, four RBI, 16 runs scored and no home runs over 155 plate appearances. With third-base prospect Junior Caminero replacing Curtis Mead in the majors, Walls' playing time could take a hit since Jose Caballero will likely have to get more of his time at shortstop moving forward.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Goes deep again Wednesday
Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Rays.
Pena has found his power with three homers over the last four games, and this was the first time in that span he's failed to record multiple hits. The shortstop is up to 12 homers on the year, including five since the All-Star break. He's added a .278/.322/.405 slash line with 56 RBI, 61 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 20 doubles and one triple over 118 contests.
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Zachary Neto SS | LAA
Angels' Zach Neto: Receiving Wednesday off
Neto is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
The 23-year-old's trip to the bench will end a run of 30 straight starts, during which he slashed .343/.442/.608 with seven doubles, six homers, eight steals, 22 RBI and 21 runs. Luis Guillorme will start at shortstop and bat eighth Wednesday while Neto sits.
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Miguel Rojas SS | LAD
Dodgers' Miguel Rojas: Resting Wednesday
Rojas isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Wednesday's game versus Milwaukee.
Rojas has tallied a base hit in all five games he's played in since returning from the injured list last week, and he'll now get a breather against right-hander Frankie Montas. Nick Ahmed will get the starting nod at shortstop instead and bat ninth.
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Javier Baez SS | DET
Tigers' Javier Baez: Managing hip issue
Baez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners due to right hip discomfort, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Baez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer during Tuesday's contest, and it's unclear when he suffered the injury. The 31-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status. Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop Wednesday with Baez banged up.