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Alex Bregman 3B | CHC
Red Sox's Alex Bregman: Planned playing time revealed
Boston manager Alex Cora said Bregman will play four of the six games on the team's current road trip, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Bregman was activated off the injured list last week and played two of three games prior to the All-Star break. He started the first game back from the break Friday and will start again Saturday before getting Sunday off. The manager said Bregman will start Monday and Tuesday in Philadelphia before getting Wednesday off.
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Andrew Benintendi DH | CHW
White Sox's Andrew Benintendi: Starts against left-hander
Benintendi went 2-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI against the Pirates on Friday.
Benintendi helped ignite the White Sox's offense for a 10-run outburst, highlighted by an RBI double in the first inning and a run-scoring single six frames later. It was also notable that Benintendi was in the lineup against lefty Bailey Falter, as he had sat against two of the last three southpaws the team faced. Though broken up by the All-Star break, Benintendi has a modest three-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 7-for-10 with five runs scored, one home run, three RBI and a stolen base.
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Michael Taylor CF | CHW
White Sox's Michael Taylor: Settling into short-side role
Taylor went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI against the Pirates on Friday.
Taylor has sat against each of the last five opposing right-handed starting pitchers, but he has started against the last four lefties. He hit ninth in the order Friday against Bailey Falter and delivered a three-RBI double in the seventh inning to put the team up 10-1. While his playing time isn't likely to be consistent, Taylor has hit a decent .240 with four doubles, eight RBI and two runs scored across 29 plate appearances in July.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Runs hit streak to six games
Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a double in Friday's 2-0 win over the Tigers.
Higashioka's bat has come alive of late. He's hit safely in six straight, going 9-for-24 (.375) with two home runs, a double and four RBI during the streak. He continues to share the catching with Jonah Heim while both get opportunities as the DH.
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Colson Montgomery SS | CHW
White Sox's Colson Montgomery: Knocks in two
Montgomery went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI against the Pirates on Friday.
Montgomery broke the game open with a two-RBI double in the sixth inning, the first double and second extra-base hit of his career. He has started 10 out of 11 games since being promoted to the majors and is hitting a solid .281 with a 9:6 K:BB in 38 plate appearances. While the start to his big-league career has perhaps gone better than anticipated, it is worth watching his strikeout rate, as he has been punched out five times across his last three starts.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | ATL
Rangers' Rowdy Tellez: Starts at first base
Tellez started at first base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 2-0 win over Detroit.
The Rangers selected Tellez's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday and plan to use him in the mix at first base, while Jake Burger (quadriceps) is on the 10-day injured list. The lefty batter could see the majority of starts there as part of a platoon with Ezequiel Duran. Burger is eligible to return July 23.
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Keider Montero SP | DET
Tigers' Keider Montero: Returns to starting role Saturday
Montero is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Rangers in Arlington.
After getting called up from Triple-A Toledo on July 7 and notching a quality start in a win over the Rays later that day, Montero shifted to the bullpen for the Tigers' final series before the All-Star break, covering three innings and allowing three runs in an appearance against the Mariners last Saturday. Montero will move back into the rotation to begin the second half, though his hold on a starting role could be tenuous. Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could bump Montero from the rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.
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Brayan Rocchio SS | CLE
Guardians' Brayan Rocchio: Doubles twice in win
Rocchio went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 8-6 win over the Athletics.
Rocchio's last three hits have gone for doubles, and the shortstop has produced offensively since the Guardians snapped a 10-game losing streak. Over the last eight contests, Rocchio has gone 9-for-27 (.333) with six doubles, a home run and six RBI. He opened the season as Cleveland's primary shortstop and is getting a second chance at the position with Gabriel Arias (ankle) on the injured list. Arias began a rehab assignment Friday and should return soon, but he's not a lock to reclaim the position. Guardians shortstops rank last in average (.193) and on-base percentage (.259) and 28th in OPS (.552)
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Angel Martinez LF | CLE
Guardians' Angel Martinez: Moves to leadoff
Martinez batted leadoff and went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 8-6 win over the Athletics.
Martinez took over the leadoff spot for Steven Kwan, who was unavailable due to a wrist injury. Martinez's bat was largely quiet during the first half -- he posted a slash line of .231/.257/.349 over 69 games -- but got on a roll before the break and continued it Friday. Over the last 11 contests, Martinez has gone 12-for-43 (.279) with six doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and a stolen base.