MLB Player News
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Blaze Alexander 3B | BAL
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Available off bench Monday
Alexander (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals but said he will be available off the bench, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Alexander's early exit in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Giants was attributed to a right hamstring cramp, and the Diamondbacks don't seem to believe the rookie is dealing with anything significant a day later. He noted that he's not dealing with any structural damage, but because Alexander is still experiencing some discomfort in the hamstring, he'll get a day off Monday to continue healing. Kevin Newman will pick up the start at shortstop in Alexander's stead.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Productive during twin bill
Crawford went a combined 2-for-8 with a triple, four RBI, two walks and two runs during both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Rockies.
The four trips on the basepaths made for a busy afternoon for the veteran shortstop, and the productive day, which was highlighted by a bases-clearing triple in Game 2, was preceded by back-to-back two-hit efforts in Crawford's previous two contests Tuesday and Saturday. Crawford is still slashing just .193/.287/.289 on the season, but he's now reached safely in 11 consecutive games, a span during which he boasts a .353 on-base percentage.
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C.J. Abrams SS | WAS
Nationals' CJ Abrams: Swipes fourth bag
Abrams went 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Astros.
The shortstop extended his hitting streak to eight games with the performance, but the steal was his first since March 30, snapping a 16-game drought on the basepaths. Abrams has hardly been a disappointment so far in 2024, slashing .297/.358/.676 with six homers, four steals, 12 RBI and 15 runs in 18 contests, but after he pilfered 47 bags last year in his first full big-league season, fantasy GMs who invested in him are likely expecting the 23-year-old to be a bit busier as a baserunner.
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Orelvis Martinez 2B | WAS
Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Triple-A hit streak at 15 games
Martinez went 2-for-5 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Triple-A Buffalo's 16-4 rout of Columbus on Sunday.
The 22-year-old might be the hottest hitter in the minor leagues right now. Martinez has a 15-game hit streak going in which he's slashing .361/.418/.754, and all six of his homers on the season for Buffalo have come in the last seven contests. The Blue Jays have been mixing and matching four different players at the keystone so far with solid results -- the team sits in the top 10 in OPS, wOBA and wRC+ from the second-base position with an aggregate .252/.329/.413 slash line -- but Martinez's performance at the highest level of the minors is getting hard to ignore. A promotion seems likely sooner rather than later.
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Nick Allen SS | HOU
Athletics' Nick Allen: Recaptures regular role
Allen will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Allen had begun to fade into a part-time role early last week, but he appears to have since regained a foothold as the Athletics' everyday shortstop after rookie Darell Hernaiz was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. He's now picked up a fifth straight start at shortstop, but Allen still isn't an enticing fantasy option in spite of the increased stability with his playing time. Through 58 plate appearances this season, Allen is slashing .170/.241/.208 with zero home runs or stolen bases.
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Ha-seong Kim SS | ATL
Padres' Ha-Seong Kim: Two steals Sunday
Kim went 0-for-2 with two walks, two steals and two runs in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays.
Kim drew walks in the sixth and ninth innings. He stole second and third in the ninth before ultimately coming in to score on a bases-loaded walk from Nate Pearson. Sunday ended a five-game hit streak for Kim, who is now hitting .226/347/.417 with three homers, 13 RBI, 14 runs, six steals and a 16:16 BB:K in 102 plate appearances.
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Kevin Newman 3B | LAA
Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman: Fills in at shortstop
Newman entered Sunday's 5-3 win over the Giants to play shortstop after Blaze Alexander (hamstring) was removed. Newman went 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.
Newman, who replaced Alexander to start the bottom of the fifth inning, doubled home what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the ninth. Alexander's injury was described as a cramp, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, which doesn't sound too serious The Diamondbacks are limited at shortstop after designating Jace Peterson, leaving Newman or possibly Ketel Marte to fill in if Alexander's unable to play Monday in St. Louis.
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Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Three hits in Game 1
Tovar went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Colorado's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Mariners in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Tovar notched the Rockies' first hit of the game in the bottom of the first inning before later adding two more base knocks, including an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th frame, knotting the game up at 1-1. The 22-year-old has now notched two three-hit performances over the last three contests, while Sunday's matinee was his eighth multi-hit outcome on the year. Tovar is batting .321 with three homers, 11 RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases over 81 at-bats in 21 games this season.
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Blaze Alexander 3B | BAL
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Dealing with hamstring cramp
Alexander left Sunday's contest versus the Giants early due to a right hamstring cramp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Alexander left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it appears like he avoided a serious injury. The 24-year-old can be considered day-to-day for the time being ahead the team's three-game series in St. Louis beginning Monday.
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Blaze Alexander 3B | BAL
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Exits early Sunday
Alexander (undisclosed) exited Sunday's matchup with the Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Alexander was replaced at shortstop in the bottom of the fifth frame, exiting the game after going 0-for-2 from the plate Sunday. It's unclear why the 24-year-old was removed from the contest and more information will likely be provided in the near future. Kevin Newman replaced Alexander at shortstop, batting ninth against San Francisco.