MLB Player News
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Luke Williams 2B | ATL
Dodgers' Luke Williams: Back to bench role
Williams is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
He made three consecutive starts at shortstop last week after Miguel Rojas (hamstring) landed on the injured list, but Williams has since moved back to a utility role after Mookie Betts was reinstated from the paternity list Thursday and after Chris Taylor overcame a side injury. Williams will be on the bench for the third straight contest.
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Orlando Arcia SS | MIN
Braves' Orlando Arcia: Takes part in conditioning work
Arcia (wrist) was spotted Tuesday doing some jogging in the outfield at Truist Park, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Arcia looks like he's continuing to do conditioning work while he's on the shelf with a microfracture of his left wrist, but until the 28-year-old is participating in fielding drills and taking batting practice, his return from the 10-day injured list shouldn't be viewed as imminent. Toscano notes that Arcia was still sporting a splint on his left wrist, so the infielder looks as though he still may be several days away from resuming full baseball activities. Vaughn Grissom should continue to serve as Atlanta's everyday shortstop while Arcia is on the mend.
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Yu Chang SS | TB
Red Sox's Yu Chang: Needs hamate surgery, out six weeks
The Red Sox placed Chang on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left hamate fracture. He's scheduled to undergo surgery and Thursday and is expected to miss around six weeks, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
The injury Chang suffered in Monday's game against the Orioles comes at an unfortunate time, as he had recently carved out a regular role at shortstop for the Red Sox. With Chang now headed for surgery, Enrique Hernandez is expected to move over from second base to take on the bulk of the starts at shortstop. Christian Arroyo and Triple-A Worcester call-up Enmanuel Valdez are the primary candidates to pick up reps at the keystone.
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Kevin Smith DH | NYY
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Blasts three-run homer Monday
Smith went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Monday.
The Athletics' offense finally had a breakout night in the new season, and Smith followed teammates Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar in leaving the yard early in the contest. Rooker's 385-foot shot to left in the second inning was the most productive of the three early round trippers, as it plated Aledmys Diaz and Carlos Perez to push Oakland's lead to 5-0 at the time. Smith has now hit safely in four consecutive starts, slowly crawling out of an early-season hole at the plate that is responsible for his slash line still sitting at an abysmal .186/.186/.279, even when factoring in recent success.
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Tucupita Marcano 2B | SD
Pirates' Tucupita Marcano: Draws third straight start
Marcano will start at second base and bat second in Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.
Marcano is making his third consecutive start at the keystone after he went 3-for-7 with a double in the final two contests of the Pirates' series with the Reds this past weekend. With Bryan Reynolds (personal) on the bereavement list and set to miss a second straight game Tuesday, Ji Hwan Bae has moved to the outfield, which has opened up second base for Marcano. Once Reynolds is reinstated, Marcano is a likely candidate to move back into a utility role and see his opportunities take a hit.
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Jose Barrero SS | BAL
Reds' Jose Barrero: Not in lineup Tuesday
Barrero is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rangers.
Kevin Newman will get the start at shortstop and bat sixth versus the Rangers and left-hander Martin Perez. Barrero is slashing just .228/.308/.316 through 65 plate appearances this year for the Reds, though it's not like Newman has been any better.
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Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Glimpses of improvement
Tovar went 1-for-4 with two RBI on Monday against the Guardians.
Tovar delivered a two-RBI single in the fourth inning to put the Rockies up 3-0. That was his lone hit of the game, but he did not strike out for the first time in his last five starts. Tovar is riding a very modest two-game hitting streak, but that's a positive sign after he went just 2-for-24 with a 34.5 percent strikeout rate across his prior eight games. Overall, he's hitting .194 with seven RBI and four extra-base hits across 77 plate appearances.
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Wander Franco SS | TB
Rays' Wander Franco: Dazzles against Astros
Franco went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 8-3 win over Houston.
The 22-year-old shortstop didn't just dominate offensively either, as he made an incredible barehanded catch on a dead sprint into foul territory that required him to cover 96 feet in a little over five seconds. Franco is emerging as a superstar in 2023, slashing .318/.388/.580 through 22 games with four homers, five steals, 13 runs and 14 RBI, and the only thing standing between him and a potential 30-30 campaign could be his ability to stay healthy.
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Jeremy Pena SS | HOU
Astros' Jeremy Pena: Pops fourth homer
Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Rays.
The shortstop took rookie Taj Bradley deep in the third inning, briefly giving the Astros their last lead of the game at 3-2. Pena has had trouble stringing together hits so far this season, slashing just .217/.280/.413 through 23 games, but he's maintained solid fantasy production with four homers, six steals, 13 RBI and 16 runs. The RBI on Monday was his first in the last four games, and he's struck out six times over that span.
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Joey Wendle 2B | ATL
Marlins' Joey Wendle: Nearing rehab assignment
Wendle (intercostal) hopes to begin a rehab assignment this week, MLB.com reports.
Wendle went through a full workout Monday, including hitting off the pitching machine. The infielder has missed the last three weeks with a right intercostal strain but appears poised to return within the next week or so.