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Cedric Mullins CF | TB
Rays' Cedric Mullins: Idle against lefty
Mullins is out of the lineup for Sunday's affair with the Padres.
As San Diego sends out southpaw Robbie Ray, the left-handed hitter will take a seat. Jonny DeLuca will slide over to center field in place of Mullins.
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Byron Buxton CF | MIN
Twins' Byron Buxton: On bench again Sunday
Buxton (hip) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
It's the fourth straight absence for Buxton, who continues to manage right hip discomfort. The 32-year-old is considered day-to-day for now, but an IL stint could be in store if he misses much more time. Top prospect Walker Jenkins is picking up a third consecutive start in center field Sunday for the Twins.
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Roman Anthony LF | BOS
Red Sox's Roman Anthony: Back from injured list
The Red Sox reinstated Anthony (finger) from the 60-day injured list Sunday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports. He is batting leadoff as the designated hitter against the Yankees.
Anthony has been sidelined since early May due to a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger, but he's been deemed ready to rejoin the Red Sox after posting a .967 OPS during an eight-game rehab assignment. The 22-year-old had yet to get on track in 30 contests prior to the injury, as he had a .229/.354/.321 slash line in his first 130 plate appearances of the season. Anthony should operate as Boston's primary designated hitter now that he's healthy but could also get some reps in the outfield.
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Angel Martinez LF | CLE
Guardians' Angel Martinez: Accounts for offense in loss
Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Royals.
Martinez gave the Guardians an early lead, belting a two-run homer in the second inning, and then singled in an insurance run in the bottom of the ninth. Chase DeLauter, who served as the designated hitter the last two days, is dealing with a nagging hamstring issue, which could open up playing time. Martinez is enjoying his best season in the majors, posting a .712 OPS along with 13 home runs, 48 RBI and 11 steals across 94 games and 341 plate appearances.
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David Fry LF | CLE
Guardians' David Fry: Makes first start since call-up
Fry started at first base and went 1-for-1 with a walk and a double in Saturday's 8-3 loss to Kansas City.
Fry was in the starting lineup for the first time since being recalled Aug. 19, slotting in at first base against a left-hander. He was eventually pinch hit for by Nathaniel Lowe against a right-handed reliever. Lowe remains the starter at first base, getting starts whenever the Guardians face a right-hander. Fry will remain the primary backup until Rhys Hoskins (back) comes off the injured list.
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Lawrence Butler RF | ATH
Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Tallies 10th steal
Butler went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a steal and two walks in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Orioles.
Butler reached base three times, including an RBI walk in the sixth inning to get the Athletics on the board. After singling in the ninth frame, the outfielder stole his 10th base of the season. Butler has put together a strong August, slashing .295/.385/.505 with six homers, 15 RBI, 15 runs and four stolen bases across 26 tilts. Overall, he's hitting .228/.326/.371 with 12 homers, 43 RBI and 53 runs over 128 games.
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Leody Taveras CF | BAL
Orioles' Leody Taveras: Plates three runs, swipes bag in victory
Taveras went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Taveras drove in more than half of his team's runs in the win, belting a ground-rule RBI double in the third inning and adding a two-run double in the sixth. The veteran outfielder has gone just 5-for-21 over his past five games, but he's knocked in a hearty eight runs with three extra-base hits during that span. On the season, Taveras is slashing .227/.299/.363 with eight homers, 15 doubles, six triples, 53 runs, 52 RBI and 11 stolen bases over 424 plate appearances.
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Roman Anthony LF | BOS
Red Sox's Roman Anthony: Likely to be reinstated Sunday
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said after Saturday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees that both Anthony (finger) and Trevor Story (sports hernia) will likely be reinstated from the injured list Sunday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Anthony and Story are both joining the Red Sox in the Bronx ahead of Sunday's series finale. There are corresponding moves that need to be made, but it looks like Boston is getting significant upgrades right before the calendar turns to September for the final weeks of the regular season. Anthony figures to see the majority of his playing time as the Red Sox's designated hitter in the absence of Masataka Yoshida (hamstring), though Anthony should also see a few reps in the outfield.
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Brandon Nimmo RF | TEX
Rangers' Brandon Nimmo: Fills stat sheet in loss
Nimmo went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers.
Nimmo was a pest in a losing effort, tallying a homer and a steal in the same contest for the first time this season. It was a much-needed performance for the 33-year-old, who entered the game just 2-for-35 over his past nine contests and without a home run since Aug. 9. For the season, he's slashing .262/.327/.423 with 14 long balls, 51 RBI, 54 runs scored and seven stolen bases across 550 plate appearances.
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Walker Jenkins CF | MIN
Twins' Walker Jenkins: Records career firsts in loss
Jenkins went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox.
In his second big-league game, Jenkins picked up his first career steal, RBI and extra-base hit, after he'd gone 1-for-3 with a walk in his debut Friday. The 21-year-old is covering center field while Byron Buxton (hip) is on the mend, but Jenkins should slide over to an outfield corner once the veteran is cleared to return, with left field the likelier spot, as Trevor Larnach is batting .188 (12-for-64) in August.