MLB Player News
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Christian Walker 1B | HOU
Astros' Christian Walker: On bench Sunday
Walker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Walker started the past four games, going 3-for-15 with a walk, a double, three RBI and seven strikeouts since returning from a minor hip issue. LaMonte Wade is starting at first base Sunday, which opens up left field for Zach Dezenzo.
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Andrew Velazquez SS | KC
Royals' Andrew Velazquez: Gaining traction in middle infield
Velazquez will start at second base and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Since he was called up from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday after Bobby Witt (back) was placed on the injured list, Velazquez has started four of the Royals' ensuing five games. He'll be filling in Sunday at the keystone for Michael Massey, but Velazquez could end up being the preferred option at shortstop over Tyler Tolbert while Witt is on the mend. Velazquez has gone 1-for-9 with a stolen base through his first three contests with Kansas City.
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Michael Massey 2B | KC
Royals' Michael Massey: Idle against southpaw
Massey is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
After starting the Royals' previous six games, the left-handed hitter will retreat to the bench Sunday while southpaw Framber Valdez toes the rubber for the Tigers. Andrew Velazquez will check in for Massey at second base and bat ninth, with Tyler Tolbert manning shortstop.
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Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Resting up Sunday
Pasquantino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Pasquantino will be given the afternoon off after he went 8-for-21 with three runs and one RBI while starting in the Royals' previous six games. Salvador Perez will replace Pasquantino at first base.
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Spencer Jones CF | NYY
Yankees' Spencer Jones: Back in big leagues
The Yankees recalled Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.
The 25-year-old rookie was up with the Yankees for Wednesday's doubleheader versus Pittsburgh and will now get a longer look in the majors since Cody Bellinger (hamstring) was placed on the injured list. Jones has yet to find his footing in the big leagues with a .224/.314/.355 slash line and 40.7 percent strikeout rate through 31 games, but he should get his fair share of opportunities moving forward due to both Bellinger and Aaron Judge (ribs) being on the shelf.
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Cody Bellinger LF | NYY
Yankees' Cody Bellinger: Lands on injured list
The Yankees placed Bellinger on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a left hamstring strain.
The veteran outfielder sustained the injury during Saturday's win over the Phillies and will be sidelined for at least the next week and a half. It's another huge blow to a Yankees outfield that has been without Aaron Judge (ribs) since late May and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) since late April. Bellinger will be eligible to return Aug. 4, but there's no firm timeline for his recovery. Spencer Jones was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to round out New York's outfield.
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Andruw Monasterio SS | BOS
Red Sox's Andruw Monasterio: Drawing fourth straight start
Monasterio will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Monasterio will head into Sunday's contest riding a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 10-for-20 with seven extra-base hits to bring his season-long slash line up to .250/.301/.442. He'll be making his fourth straight start and appears to have supplanted Tsung-Che Cheng as the preferred option at shortstop, but Monasterio likely won't have a long leash as an everyday player. Boston is expected to get Trevor Story (sports hernia) back from the injured list at some point in August, and everyday third baseman Caleb Durbin will begin getting pregame work at shortstop as well in an effort to increase his versatility.
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Tsung-Che Cheng SS | BOS
Red Sox's Tsung-Che Cheng: Losing reps to Monasterio
Cheng is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Though he had been occupying the strong side of a platoon at shortstop with Andruw Monasterio since being called up from Triple-A Worcester on June 26, Cheng finds himself on the bench for a fourth straight matchup versus a right-hander. Monasterio appears to have at least temporarily settled into a near-everyday role at the expense of Cheng, who has produced a lowly .256/.318/.282 slash line through his first 44 plate appearances with Boston.
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Anthony Seigler 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Anthony Seigler: On bench for series finale
Seigler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Romy Gonzalez will draw the start at second base in place of Seigler, but both could be headed for bench roles after the Red Sox acquired Curtis Mead from the Nationals earlier Sunday. Though Mead had primarily been used at third base and first base with Washington, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said that the infielder will see most of his initial opportunities at the keystone. With a .774 OPS in 29 games with the big club this season, Seigler has performed well enough to maintain at least a semi-regular role, so it's possible that he and/or Mead end up cutting into Masataka Yoshida's playing time at designated hitter.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Resting up Sunday
Wong is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Wong will take a seat for the series finale after he went 1-for-6 with four strikeouts Friday and Saturday. Carlos Narvaez will get the nod at catcher Sunday.