MLB Player News
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Blaze Alexander SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Another outfield start
Alexander started in center field and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and was caught stealing in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Texas.
Alexander started a second straight game in center field, both coming against left-handers. With the news that Lourdes Gurriel is done for the season with a torn ACL, there's a greater need for Alexander's right-handed bat in the outfield. He has experience in center field and replaced Gurriel in left field Monday.
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Max Muncy 3B | LAD
Dodgers' Max Muncy: Tracking toward return on homestand
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Muncy (oblique/illness) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City later this week and could return during next week's homestand, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Muncy's return from a right oblique strain has been delayed a bit by a chest cold, but he looks to be close to overcoming that illness and is nearly game-ready. The third baseman has been sidelined since mid-August.
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Brady House SS | WAS
Nationals' Brady House: Playing time dwindling
House is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Marlins.
House had started the previous two contests, but this marks his third absence from the lineup over the last five games and the fourth absence across the last eight games. The 22-year-old is slashing .213/.221/.267 with a 1:27 BB:K since the start of August. Paul DeJong will handle third base and bat eighth.
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Nacho Alvarez Jr. 3B | ATL
Braves' Nacho Alvarez: Finding groove at plate
Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Cubs.
The 22-year-old infielder has picked up the pace at the plate, and over his last 16 games Alvarez is slashing .288/.344/.373 with five doubles, five RBI and seven runs. He should remain the starting third baseman for the rest of the season with Austin Riley recovering from core muscle surgery, but Alvarez's lack of power or speed limits his fantasy potential even in a full-time role.
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Noelvi Marte 3B | CIN
Reds' Noelvi Marte: Completes comeback
Marte went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Monday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays.
The Reds squandered a lead in the top of the ninth inning but mounted their own comeback in the bottom of the frame. Marte finished it with a two-run single to walk off Toronto. He's scuffled the last week, batting .200 (6-for-30) with a 36.4 strikeout percentage, but Marte has delivered key hits during that run, including two home runs in addition to Monday's heroics.
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Blaze Alexander SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Gets start in center field
Alexander started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Rangers.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo discussed Alexander's shifting role last week, including time in the outfield. The outfield skews lefty, particularly in center field, and Alexander gives the manager a right-handed option against southpaws, as was the case Monday against Texas lefty Patrick Corbin. Alexander then showed off his versatility by playing left field when Lourdes Gurriel (knee) was removed, and he eventually also played third base by the end of the game. He's been on a roll over the last week, going 7-for-21 with five extra-base hits, five RBI, one steal and seven runs scored over the last six contests.
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Matt Shaw SS | CHC
Cubs' Matt Shaw: Reaches three times, swipes base
Shaw went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a stolen base and an RBI in Monday's 7-6, extra-inning win over Atlanta.
After an encouraging August in which he batted .240 with an .839 OPS and five home runs across 28 games, Shaw got off to a good start in September. The rookie only swiped one base last month, but he's now got 16 steals overall this season in 19 attempts. Shaw continues to exhibit some growing pains as a 23-year-old, though his mix of power and speed gives him plenty of fantasy upside.
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Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Transferred to 60-day IL
Atlanta transferred Riley (abdomen) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The transaction frees a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Ha-Seong Kim (back), who was claimed off waivers from the Rays on Monday. Riley underwent season-ending core surgery nearly two weeks ago and is expected to be ready for spring training.
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Alec Bohm 3B | PHI
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Getting breather Monday
Bohm is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Milwaukee.
Bohm put together an 11-game hitting streak upon his return from the injured list Aug. 17, but he'll get a breather Monday after going hitless in his last three contests. Edmundo Sosa will start third base and bat eighth for the Phillies.
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Nolan Arenado 3B | STL
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: Could be ready for rehab games soon
Arenado will join the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday and have his injured right shoulder examined Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
If he gains clearance from team doctors, Arenado will go through a pregame workout with the team Thursday and then possibly go out on a rehab assignment. The veteran third baseman has been shelved since late July with a right shoulder strain but could be back on the Cardinals' active roster by mid-September.