Guardians' Nolan Jones: Regains strong-side platoon role
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Jones will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
After being withheld from the lineup in matchups against right-handed pitching last Thursday and Friday, the left-handed-hitting Jones looked as though he might have moved behind Jhonkensy Noel on the depth chart in right field. However, the playing time has since tilted back in Jones' favor, with the 27-year-old now getting his fifth start in as many games Wednesday. Jones is still holding down a weak .596 OPS for the season, so he'll likely need to start raking to build up some job security.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Big effort in matinee
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Jones went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.
Both extra-base hits came off Jake Irvin, including a second-inning blast that landed in the second deck in right field at Nationals Park. The performance snapped an 0-for-14 slump for Jones, but he wasn't able to follow it up, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the nightcap. On the season, Jones has stumbled to a .167/.286/.310 slash line with two homers, three steals, seven runs and 14 RBI in 32 contests.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Sitting again versus right-hander
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Jones is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Jones appears to be losing his spot as the Guardians' preferred option against right-handed pitching. Jhonkensy Noel is once again making the start in right field for a second straight day against a right-handed starter. Across 83 plate appearances this season, Jones sports an ugly .169/.289/.282 slash line with one home run and five RBI.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Sitting against right-hander
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Jones is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.
The Guardians typically hold the left-handed-hitting Jones out of the lineup against left-handed pitching, but he'll sit Thursday against right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, which will allow Jhonkensy Noel to pick up a start in right field. Though Jones still looks to be the preferred option in the strong side of a platoon, he hasn't exactly mashed against right-handed pitching this season, slashing .194/.286/.323 (78 wRC+) in those matchups.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Supplies lone offense in loss
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Jones went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run and three RBI in Sunday's 13-3 loss to the Red Sox.
The Red Sox were up, 9-0, when Jones launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning. It was the first long ball of the season for the outfielder, who entered the contest with just two RBI over 23 games. Jones is batting .190/.311/.317 with six extra-base hits, five RBI and five runs scored.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Idle against southpaw
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Jones is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Jones will join fellow left-handed-hitting regulars Bo Naylor and Kyle Manzardo on the bench for the series finale while the Yankees send southpaw Carlos Rodon to the hill. Platoon mate Jhonkensy Noel will replace Jones in right field.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Bats second in win
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Jones went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Pirates.
For the second straight game, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt inserted a slumping outfielder into the two spot in the batting order, and each time, the player responded with a pair of hits. Jones' turn followed Lane Thomas, who snapped a hitless skid with a pair of hits Friday. Jones entered Saturday's contest with one hit over his previous 12 at-bats and a .140 batting average overall.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Taking seat against righty
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Jones is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
The Guardians are facing a right-hander (Dean Kremer) on Wednesday, but the lefty-hitting Jones will be on the bench while Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt opens up room in the outfield for the hot-hitting Angel Martinez, who has gone 8-for-14 at the dish since his call-up from Triple-A Columbus a week ago. Once Martinez's bat cools, Jones could re-emerge as the Guardians' preferred option in right field against right-handed pitching.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Stays in center field
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Jones started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Thursday's 6-1 win over the White Sox.
Jones remained in center field as the replacement for the injured Lane Thomas (wrist). His seventh-inning single ended an 0-for-15 slump, and the steal was his first of the year against one caught stealing. Jones, who is slashing .133/.278/.200, had been platooning with Jhonkensy Noel (.160/.214/.160) in right field prior to Thomas' injury.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Moves to center field
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Jones started in center field and went 0-for-2 with two walks in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the White Sox.
Jones slid from right field to center with Lane Thomas (wrist) nursing an injury. Jones has managed to work six walks over 32 plate appearances but is hitless in his last 12 at-bats.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Jones is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Jones has collected just three hits with 10 strikeouts through his first 23 plate appearances of the season, and he'll hit the bench Sunday versus Halos lefty Tyler Anderson. Jhonkensy Noel will take over in right field for the series finale.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Logs two hits in loss
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Jones started in right field and went 2-for-4 with a double in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to San Diego.
Jones is settling in after being acquired by the Guardians late in spring training. He had his best offensive game of the young season Wednesday after a 1-for-11 stretch with seven strikeouts over his first three outings. Jones is holding down the strong side of a platoon in right field.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Slated for right field versus RHP
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Jones is expected to see the bulk of his playing time in right field against right-handed pitching, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
The Guardians acquired Jones via trade Saturday and sent Will Brennan down Monday, effectively replacing the latter with the former as the strong side of a platoon in right field. Jhonkensy Noel is likely to start in right field versus left-handers. Jones exiting Coors Field isn't ideal on the surface, but Progressive Field ranked fourth in baseball for home runs for left-handed batters last season, per Baseball Savant's Park Factors.
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Guardians' Nolan Jones: Dealt back to Cleveland
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Jones was traded from the Rockies to the Guardians in exchange for Tyler Freeman on Saturday, SI.com reports.
Jones came up through the Guardians' minor-league system and had a fair amount of expectations as a prospect. He had a breakout 2023 season in Colorado after being dealt by Cleveland, only to fall flat in 2024 while playing through injuries. Jones will look to bounce back in his reunion with the Guardians and should occupy a large-side platoon in right field.
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Rockies' Nolan Jones: Idle Tuesday
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Jones is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Cardinals.
Jones is slashing just .179/.283/.179 in September, although he did produce a pair of RBI singles over the Rockies' two weekend games. With the left fielder taking a seat Tuesday, Sam Hilliard has the start and is batting seventh.
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Rockies' Nolan Jones: Knocks in two
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Jones went 1-for-4 with two RBI on Sunday against the Dodgers.
Jones has had a rough season, and there haven't been many signs of him turning things around as he's hitting only .224 with a 28.4 percent strikeout rate in 25 games since returning from the injured list Aug. 20. He did manage to make an impact in Sunday's loss, highlighted by an RBI single in the third inning, and he has driven in three runs across his last five appearances.
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Rockies' Nolan Jones: Struggles continuing
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Jones went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Jones has had a miserable September, tallying only five hits across 31 at-bats paired with a 34.2 percent strikeout rate. He also hasn't homered since June 29, leading to a .095 ISO on the campaign. Jones is still getting regular at-bats against righties for the time being, though Sam Hilliard has been far more productive of late.
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Rockies' Nolan Jones: Taking seat Saturday
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Jones isn't in the Rockies' lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Jones will get a breather Saturday after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during a victory in Friday's series opener. While he watches from the dugout, Jordan Beck, Brenton Doyle and Jake Cave will start in Colorado's outfield.
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Rockies' Nolan Jones: On bench against righty
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Jones is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.
The lefty-hitting Jones will take a seat Friday even with right-hander Albert Suarez on the mound for Baltimore. Jones had started five of the Rockies' previous six games against right-handed pitchers. Jordan Beck will handle left field Friday.
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Rockies' Nolan Jones: Scratched from lineup
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Jones was scratched from the Rockies' lineup ahead of Friday's game versus the Mets.
The Rockies haven't yet provided a reason for Jones' removal from Friday's starting nine, but an explanation should be offered shortly. In the meantime, Sam Hilliard will step in to cover left field.
