MLB Player News
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Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Still not hitting
Alvarez (hand) hasn't started hitting, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported Friday.
An MRI on May 30 revealed Alvarez had a fracture in his right hand, and the Astros decided to shut him down from hitting until the injury was fully healed. Given Friday's news, the fracture hasn't healed yet. A timeline for return hasn't been established, but Houston could elect to keep him out until after its nine-game road trip -- which starts Monday -- ends.
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Ryan O'Hearn DH | BAL
Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn: Taking seat versus southpaw
O'Hearn is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Tigers.
The left-handed-hitting O'Hearn doesn't always sit against left-handed pitching, but he'll begin this one on the bench as the Tigers send tough southpaw Tarik Skubal to the rubber. Jackson Holliday is getting a start in the designated hitter spot.
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Jahmai Jones DH | DET
Tigers' Jahmai Jones: Batting leadoff again
Jones is serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff in Thursday's game against the Orioles.
Just as he did Tuesday when Baltimore started a lefty, Jones will bat first Thursday against southpaw Keegan Akin, who is serving as the opener. Akin is only expected to work an inning or two, with righty Dean Kremer lined up to handle the bulk role. That could lead to someone like Colt Keith, who isn't starting, to pinch hit for Jones later in the contest.
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Trevor Larnach DH | MIN
Twins' Trevor Larnach: Idle against lefty
Larnach is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.
The left-handed-hitting Larnach will hit the bench while southpaw Patrick Corbin toes the rubber for Texas. Larnach is slashing just .167/.211/.259 (29 wRC+) in 57 plate appearances versus lefties this season, and the Twins could limit his exposure to same-handed pitching moving forward now that the team has all of its key outfielders healthy again.
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Ben Rice DH | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Could get starts at catcher soon
Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Wednesday that Rice could see starts at catcher after Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) returns from the 60-day injured list, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Rice caught two innings in Tuesday's win over the Royals, with Boone calling Rice's performance behind the plate "noticeably excellent." It's the fifth time this season that Rice has seen action at catcher this season, and while he has yet to make a start at catcher at the big-league level, it was his primary position in the minors. Rice is not going to overtake Austin Wells as the primary backstop for the Yankees, but mixing him in at the position will allow Boone to fit Stanton and others in the lineup. It would also greatly boost Rice's fantasy appeal if he's able to gain catcher eligibility.
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Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Smacks 10th homer
Diaz went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Red Sox.
Diaz tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning with his 10th home run of the season. He has gone deep three times in his last 10 contests while going 15-for-39 with eight RBI and eight runs scored in that span. This run has increased Diaz's ISO to .169 on the campaign, which would be good for the third-highest mark of his career.
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Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Four hits, two homers in loss
Rooker went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, three total RBI and three total runs scored in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Angels.
Rooker extended the A's lead to 2-0 in the third inning with a 412-foot solo shot off Kyle Hendricks before blasting a two-run shot off Ryan Zeferjahn in the seventh. The 30-year-old Rooker had gone 10 games without a home run coming into Wednesday's contest, though he still went 22-for-59 (.373) with a 1.075 OPS in his last 15 games. Overall, Rooker's slashing .276/.342/.498 with 15 homers, 41 RBI and 44 runs scored through 307 plate appearances this season.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Logs two hits in first rehab game
Stanton (elbows) went 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI in a rehab appearance with Double-A Somerset on Tuesday.
Stanton's rehab appearance Tuesday marked his first game action of any sort this year, including spring training. The slugger grounded out in his first plate appearance but reached base in his remaining three trips to the plate, with one of his hits being a single that came off the bat at 111.4 mph and bounced off the outfield wall for a two-run single. Stanton is expected to play in a few more rehab games before he's ready to join the Yankees.
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Kyle Manzardo DH | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Falling into platoon at DH
Manzardo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
The left-handed-hitting Manzardo has produced a .947 OPS in 40 plate appearances versus lefties this season, but he'll likely find himself on the bench more frequently against southpaws while the Guardians have plenty of right-handed bats available off the bench. David Fry will replace Manzardo at designated hitter in Wednesday's series finale while the Reds send southpaw Nick Lodolo to the bump.
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Jorge Soler DH | LAA
Angels' Jorge Soler: Back in action Tuesday
Soler (groin) will start in right field and bat fifth in Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
After missing two consecutive starts due to a groin issue that flared up Saturday, Soler will return to the Angels' starting nine Tuesday and aim to turn things around after going 2-for-17 to begin June.