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Travis Bazzana 2B | CLE
Guardians' Travis Bazzana: Runs hit streak to five games
Bazzana went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Nationals.
Bazzana's multi-hit effort extended a hit streak to five games, during which the rookie has gone 8-for-19 with a home run, five doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. All of that production came as the Guardians' leadoff batter, a role that opened up because of Steven Kwan's season-opening slump.
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Ty Blach RP | CHC
Cubs' Ty Blach: Back with Cubs on minors deal
The Cubs re-signed Blach to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Blach elected free agency earlier this week after being removed from the Cubs' 40-man roster, but he's now back in the organization on a new contract. The lefty threw three scoreless frames in his lone appearance for Chicago and will give the organization swingman depth at Triple-A Iowa.
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Chase DeLauter RF | CLE
Guardians' Chase DeLauter: Ends RBI drought
DeLauter went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Washington.
DeLauter's fifth-inning, run-scoring single gave the Guardians a 2-1 lead and snapped an eight-game RBI drought. He entered Thursday having gone 4-for-28 (.143) during that RBI-less stretch. Despite the slump, DeLauter continues to lead Cleveland with 31 RBI.
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TJ Friedl CF | CIN
Reds' TJ Friedl: Dropped to ninth
Friedl batted ninth in the order and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.
This was Friedl's first time starting a game at the bottom of the order. The one-time leadoff hitter's season-opening slump has cost him both a spot atop the Reds' order and playing time - Friedl's started just three times in the last 13 games.
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Blake Dunn CF | CIN
Reds' Blake Dunn: Logs three hits in loss
Dunn batted leadoff and went 3-for-6 in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.
Dunn was part of a frustrating night for Cincinnati batters, as the team left a season-high 17 runners on base and went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position. With TJ Friedl having been moved out of the top spot in the order, Dunn has stared four straight games at leadoff and sports a .393 on-base percentage across 56 plate appearances since being called up from Triple-A Louisville.
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Gaining foothold in lineup
Kiner-Falefa started at third base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-0 win over Atlanta.
Kiner-Falefa was part of a small-ball, six-run fourth inning built on five singles, a walk, an error and a sacrifice. It was the fourth straight game with at least one RBI for Kiner-Falefa, who started three of those games (once at shortstop and twice at the hot corner). Given the injury to Trevor Story (abdomen) and unproductive bat of Caleb Durbin, there may be more starting opportunities for Kiner-Falefa.
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Wilyer Abreu RF | BOS
Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Knocks in two in win
Abreu went 1-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-0 win over Atlanta.
Abreu capped off Boston's six-run fourth inning, driving in two runners in scoring position with a single. The multiple-RBI night was the first since March 29 for Abreu, who entered the game with just two RBI over the previous 14 contests. As the No. 3 batter, Abreu sees significant RBI opportunities, but he's batting just .220 with RISP.
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Jarren Duran LF | BOS
Red Sox's Jarren Duran: Homers again
Duran went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 8-0 win over Atlanta.
Duran homered for a second consecutive game and extended his on-base streak as Boston's leadoff batter to 11 games. During that run, he's slashed .333/.426/.711 with four home runs, nine RBI and seven runs scored. The multi-hit effort -- his fifth in the last nine contests -- raised his average to .213, its highest point since the second game of the season. It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox keep Duran at leadoff when Roman Anthony (finger) is ready to return.
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Colt Emerson SS | SEA
Mariners' Colt Emerson: Two hits, triple in win
Emerson went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the A's.
The multi-hit effort was Emerson's second in his last four games -- he's gone 6-for-14 with four extra-base hits in that span. The rookie infielder has gotten off to a strong start overall, slashing .258/.361/.516 with a home run, six RBI and five runs scored through his first 10 major-league contests.
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Julio Rodriguez CF | SEA
Mariners' Julio Rodriguez: Up to 10 homers
Rodriguez went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in Wednesday's 9-1 win over the A's.
Rodriguez put the finishing touches on Seattle's win with his three-run blast off Luis Medina in the eighth inning, extending the lead to 9-0. It's Rodriguez's 10th homer of the year and his second in four games. The outfielder is now slashing .258/.317/.437 with 30 runs scored, 27 RBI and five steals across 249 plate appearances on the season.