MLB Player News
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Christian Vazquez C | MIN
Twins' Christian Vazquez: Has monster game vs Tigers
Vazquez went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs, a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 9-3 win over Detroit.
Vazquez reached base four times Friday, his first three-hit game since April. The veteran catcher now has three of his five home runs this season in the month of July. Vazquez is still splitting work with Ryan Jeffers, but he's gotten the upper hand recently as he's started 10 of the last 18 Twins games. The 33-year-old is hitting .280/.321/.507 with four homers over his last 75 at-bats and could be a name to watch down the stretch.
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Ben Rortvedt C | TB
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Idle Friday
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Cincinnati.
Rortvedt is absent from the starting nine for a second consecutive game, avoiding a matchup with lefty Nick Lodolo on Friday. Alex Jackson will bat ninth and catch in Rortvedt's place.
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: On bench Friday
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.
Jeffers will give way to Christian Vazquez behind the dish for Friday's series opener. Jeffers is 3-for-16 with a double since the All-Star break and holds a .773 OPS on the year.
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Carson Kelly C | DET
Tigers' Carson Kelly: Taking seat Thursday
Kelly is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.
Kelly will hit the bench for the third time in four games while the Tigers go with Jake Rogers behind the dish. Though Kelly has outproduced Rogers this season, the latter is sporting the hotter bat at the moment, as Rogers will head into Thursday's game having produced an extra-base knock in each of his last three starts.
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James McCann C | BAL
Orioles' James McCann: Filling in for resting Rutschman
McCann will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Marlins.
McCann will get the nod behind the plate for the series finale in Miami while top backstop Adley Rutschman receives a breather for the day game after a night game. Over 142 plate appearances on the season, McCann has provided a .211/.254/.323 slash line with three home runs, 17 runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base. Even if Rutschman were to miss extended time with an injury, McCann would likely be a low-end fantasy option at catcher while occupying a spot at the bottom of the order.
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Bo Naylor C | CLE
Guardians' Bo Naylor: Reaches three times in victory
Naylor went 1-for-1 with two walks, two runs and a stolen base in a 2-1 win against the Tigers on Wednesday.
Naylor scored both of Cleveland's runs in the victory, with the latter accounting for the winning margin. The backstop helped manufacture that eighth-inning score, working a walk to begin the frame, stealing second base and eventually crossing the plate on a single. Naylor is batting an even .200 (8-for-40) through 17 contests in July.
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Korey Lee C | CHW
White Sox's Korey Lee: Getting Wednesday off
Lee is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Chuckie Robinson will receive the starting nod behind the plate after Lee caught both of the White Sox's last three games and five of the past six contests. The night off might do Lee some good; the 25-year-old backstop is slashing .135/.135/.270 with no walks and a 35.1 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of July.