MLB Player News
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Troy Johnston RF | COL
Rockies' Troy Johnston: Absent from lineup
Johnston is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Nationals.
Right-hander Cade Cavalli is toeing the slab for the Nationals, but the lefty-swinging Johnston will nonetheless begin the game on the bench. Hunter Goodman is getting a day at designated hitter for the Rockies, and Brett Sullivan will enter the lineup at catcher.
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Jimmy Crooks C | STL
Cardinals' Jimmy Crooks: Struggling to find regular starts
Crooks is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Crooks has delivered late-game solo home runs off the bench in two of his last five contests, but the power surge doesn't seem to have earned him a major uptick in playing time. After sitting out against Angels righty Walbert Urena in Tuesday's 5-1 loss, the left-handed-hitting Crooks will remain on the bench for the finale while the Halos send southpaw Reid Detmers to the bump.
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Ezequiel Tovar SS | COL
Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Exiting starting lineup
Tovar is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.
Tovar went hitless in the first two games of the series and is just 2-for-32 at the dish across his last 10 contests. Willi Castro will slide over to shortstop, and Edouard Julien will handle second base for the Rockies on Wednesday.
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Jose Fermin LF | STL
Cardinals' Jose Fermin: Losing playing time versus RHPs
Fermin will start in center field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Though he'll draw back into the starting nine while southpaw Reid Detmers takes the hill for the Angels, Fermin appears to have lost hold of a regular spot in the lineup against right-handed pitching. The Cardinals kept him on the bench when the Angels sent righties to the bump for the first two contests of the series, with Blaze Jordan getting the nod over Fermin at third base in both games.
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Nathan Church CF | STL
Cardinals' Nathan Church: Taking seat against lefty
Church is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
The Cardinals will send Church and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the bench Wednesday while southpaw Reid Detmers toes the rubber for the Angels. Jose Fermin will take Church's spot in center field and will bat seventh.
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Lars Nootbaar LF | STL
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Idle against lefty
Nootbaar is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
The Cardinals will send Nootbaar and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Nathan Church to the bench Wednesday while southpaw Reid Detmers toes the rubber for the Angels. Nelson Velazquez will take Nootbaar's spot in left field and will bat fifth.
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Clay Holmes RP | NYM
Mets' Clay Holmes: Cleared for rehab start Thursday
Holmes (fibula) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Holmes is slated to throw three innings in what will be his first game appearance since he suffered a fractured right fibula in mid-May. Mets interim manager Andy Green noted that Holmes will likely require an additional rehab outing after Thursday, though it will depend on how the righty feels during and after his start with Syracuse. Holmes has posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings this season and is a candidate to be traded at the deadline.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: On base four times in Tuesday's win
Lindor went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Brewers.
The star shortstop's injury woes have been a big contributing factor in a lost season for the Mets, but Lindor is finally beginning to build some momentum at the plate. He's banged out seven hits in the last three games, and over 16 contests in July he's produced a .271/.358/.475 slash line with three doubles, three homers, eight runs and eight RBI.
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Luis Robert CF | NYM
Mets' Luis Robert: Resting in series finale
Robert is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
The Mets will give Robert a breather for the matinee contest after he started in center field in the first two games in Milwaukee following his return from the 60-day injured list, going 1-for-9 with a solo home run and a 0:4 BB:K between those contests. Robert could get a day off or two per week coming off his lengthy stint on the shelf due to a back injury, but he should be essentially locked in as a near-everyday player now that he's healthy again.
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Brett Baty 3B | NYM
Mets' Brett Baty: Starts Wednesday, but could lose PT
Baty will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
With Juan Soto and Luis Robert resting for the series finale in Milwaukee, Baty will pick up a start in the outfield alongside A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge. Robert's return from the IL earlier this week looks like it could result in Baty fading into more of a part-time role, as the Mets already sent the 26-year-old to the bench against right-hander Brandon Sproat during Tuesday's 4-0 win. Baty has produced a palatable .273/.293/.436 slash line thus far in July, but he's still holding down an underwhelming .614 OPS over 340 plate appearances on the season.