MLB Player News
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Matt Mervis 1B | MIA
Marlins' Matt Mervis: Returns from MiLB IL
Mervis (oblique) was activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Mervis missed just over three weeks while recovering from an oblique strain. He's been solid in five games since his return, going 5-for-16 with two home runs, three RBI, one stolen base and four runs scored.
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Matt Olson 1B | ATL
Braves' Matt Olson: Drives in three runs
Olson went 2-for-5 with three RBI in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.
Olson knocked an RBI single in the third inning and drove in two more with another single in the fifth. He was stuck in a 3-for-25 (.120) slump with no RBI over his previous six games entering Sunday. Olson now has nine RBI over his last 17 games but all of those have come in three contests. He's slashing .262/.362/.468 with 61 RBI and 40 extra-base hits through 420 plate appearances this season.
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Nick Kurtz 1B | ATH
Athletics' Nick Kurtz: Goes deep in win
Kurtz went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double and two runs scored in Sunday's win against Toronto.
Kurtz doubled and scored a run in the third inning before ripping a two-run shot in the fifth. After hitting one home run in his first 23 MLB contests, the rookie slugger has gone deep 16 times over his last 35 games. Kurtz hit five homers during the Athletics' nine-game homestand to close out the first half. He owns a .257/.333/.558 through 234 plate appearances.
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Michael Busch 1B | CHC
Cubs' Michael Busch: Goes deep from leadoff spot
Busch went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.
Busch batted leadoff for the first time all season, and he made the decision look good right away by belting his 19th home run of the year to start off the game. Ian Happ has been Chicago's leadoff man for most of the season, but the team has experimented with both Nico Hoerner and now Busch the past few days. It will be interesting to see how Chicago structures its lineup coming out of the All-Star break. A move up to No. 1 for Busch on a more permanent basis could allow him to score more runs but would likely decrease his RBI output.
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Dominic Smith 1B | SF
Giants' Dominic Smith: Taking seat against righty
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Though he'll head to the bench Sunday while the right-handed Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the hill for the Dodgers, the left-handed-hitting Smith appears to be the Giants' preferred option at first base over Wilmer Flores, who re-enters the lineup for the series finale. Smith had started in each of the Giants' previous five matchups with righties, while Flores was held out of the lineup for all of those games. The two are likely to continue forming a loose platoon at the position until designated hitter Rafael Devers is deemed ready to make his debut as a first baseman.
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Andrew Vaughn 1B | MIL
Brewers' Andrew Vaughn: Sitting Sunday
Vaughn is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Since being called up from Triple-A Nashville on Monday, Vaughn has gotten off to a red-hot start to his time with the Brewers, recording at least one hit in each of his first five games while producing a 1.500 OPS and driving in 10 runs. The Brewers haven't yet committed to Vaughn as a full-time player, however, as Jake Bauers will replace him in the lineup Sunday while Milwaukee looks to keep both players involved at first base in the absence of Rhys Hoskins (thumb).
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Scratched Sunday
Burger (quadriceps) was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
Burger was penciled in to bat seventh as the designated hitter after not starting Saturday due to left quad discomfort, but he'll instead remain on the bench for the final game before the All-Star break. Alejandro Osuna will serve as the DH versus Houston righty Hunter Brown.
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Donovan Solano 1B | SEA
Mariners' Donovan Solano: Handling short-side platoon role
Solano is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
After closing June with a .408/.453/.612 slash line over his final 15 games of the month, Solano had started to earn more opportunities against right-handed pitching. However, with his bat having since cooled down -- he's gone 3-for-15 with one walk through six contests in July -- he appears to have since faded back into a short-side platoon role. Solano will be on the bench Sunday for a ninth straight matchup against a right-hander, in this case Jack Flaherty.
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Jake Burger 1B | TEX
Rangers' Jake Burger: Rejoining lineup Sunday
Burger (quadriceps) is batting seventh as the designated hitter Sunday against the Astros.
Burger departed Friday's contest due to quad discomfort and was held out of the lineup Saturday, but he's good to go for the final game before the All-Star break. The 29-year-old is batting .278 with six RBI and six runs through 10 games in July, but he has only a .389 slugging percentage thanks to one double and one homer.
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Eric Wagaman 1B | MIA
Marlins' Eric Wagaman: Resting Sunday
Wagaman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.
Wagaman will hit the bench after he had started at first base each of the previous four games while going 1-for-13 with two walks. Liam Hicks will cover first base in Wagaman's stead.