MLB Player News

Ohtani is still scheduled to start Monday against the Padres despite his cracked fingernail, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was pulled from his start on the mound Tuesday due to a cracked fingernail, though he remained in the game as Los Angeles' designated hitter. While it doesn't seem like he'll miss his next start, it's possible the Angels push Ohtani back by a couple days if his nail is still bothering him by then.

Brantley (shoulder) hit in the cage Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brantley also did some defensive drills in the outfield as he ramps back up again in what has been a setback-plagued recovery from August 2022 shoulder surgery. There remains no timetable for his 2023 debut with the Astros, but the 36-year-old is at least in a better place than he was a month ago. Maybe he could push for a return shortly after the All-Star break.

Alvarez (oblique) hit off a tee and took soft-toss Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez is slowly but steadily easing back into baseball activities as he tries to get over the hump in his recovery from the right oblique strain that has sidelined him since early June. There's no exact timetable yet for his return to the Astros' active roster, but mid-July seems like a reasonable target if he's able to avoid setbacks. When healthy this year, the 26-year-old slugger has produced a .978 OPS with 17 home runs and 55 RBI across 57 games.

Ford is absent from the lineup Wednesday versus the Nationals.

AJ Pollock will serve as the Mariners' designated hitter and bat seventh with left-hander Patrick Corbin toeing the slab for Washington. Ford continues to draw all of his playing time versus right-handed pitching opponents.

Jimenez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored in Tuesday's 4-2 loss against the Angels.

After going 0-for-12 in his previous three games, Jimenez bounced back with a trio of hits Tuesday, including two doubles. Though he's been limited to just 48 games due to injury, Jimenez is slashing .258/.304/.458 with nine homers and 30 RBI.

Ohtani left Tuesday's start versus against the White Sox with a trainer, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. He allowed one run in 6.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks before leaving.

While Ohtani is no longer pitching, Weston reports that it looks like he'll remain in the game as the designated hitter. Jacob Webb has taken over for Ohtani on the mound, and Weston subsequently reports the abrupt end to his start was purely precautionary due to a cracked fingernail he suffered earlier in the game, adding that he should be fine for his next scheduled turn.

Buxton is back in the lineup Tuesday against Atlanta.

Buxton will serve as the Twins' designated hitter and cleanup man after being relegated to pinch-hitting duties Sunday and Monday. He's been bothered recently by back spasms and is also still limited by lingering knee troubles. There's no timetable for when he might return to the outfield.

Ford went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a run in a win over the Nationals on Monday.

Ford played a bit of small ball for a change, driving in Jarred Kelenic with his fifth-inning knock. The 30-year-old journeyman now has nine RBI on just 10 hits over his 53 plate appearances at the big-league level this season, with his six homers naturally playing a significant role and helping afford him regular playing time at designated hitter.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base in Monday's 2-1 win against the White Sox.

Ohtani walloped a massive 446-foot solo shot in the fourth inning that stood as the only Angels run until they walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. The long ball was the 11th over his past 19 games, a stretch during which Ohtani has catapulted to the top of the MLB leaderboard with 26 homers on the campaign. The two-way star also leads the league with 62 RBI and is the only player in the majors with 20 or more homers and at least 10 thefts.

Buxton is absent from the lineup Monday at Atlanta.

Buxton might still be experiencing complications related to the back spasms that prompted his early exit from Saturday's game against the Tigers, though he did appear off the bench in Sunday's series finale. Edouard Julien will handle the DH duties and hit leadoff for the Twins on Monday versus Atlanta.