MLB Player News

Jimenez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Jimenez started the past nine games after sitting out a few contests with a groin issue, and he'll receive a day off after hitting .400 with a home run, three doubles and seven RBI during that span. Jake Burger will serve as the designated hitter while Elvis Andrus starts at the keystone.

Belt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

The Angels are bringing another lefty (Tyler Anderson) to the hill for the series finale, so the lefty-hitting Belt will remain on the bench for the second day in a row. With Belt on the bench, Alejandro Kirk will serve as Toronto's designated hitter.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Marlins.

Cabrera showed a glimpse of his vintage form during his return to Miami, where he started his career and spent three productive seasons before getting traded to Detroit. The 40-year-old is no longer close to that level, as he has just one home run and a middling .653 OPS this year, which keeps him off the fantasy radar despite his Hall of Fame credentials.

Buxton went 3-for-3 with three doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Royals.

He was also hit by a pitch. Buxton clawed his way back over the Mendoza Line with the performance, but his .206/.295/.436 slash line remains far below expectations. The 29-year-old also has yet to play a game in the field in 2023, making all his starts at DH, and it's fair to wonder if his surgically repaired right knee has ever been 100 percent healthy in 2023.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs scored Saturday against the Rays.

Alvarez's home run came off backup catcher Rene Pinto, though he was having a productive game before his 18th long ball of the season. He has at least one hit in all three games since returning from the injured list and is showing no lingering effects of the oblique issue that cost him 39 games. When healthy, Alvarez has maintained an impressive .418 wOBA and 172 wRC+ across 255 plate appearances on the season.

Rooker went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and three RBI in Saturday's 11-3 win over the Rockies.

Rooker hit a two-run blast in the second inning and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to pad Oakland's lead. After a week-long absence with an illness, Rooker has played in three straight games, going 5-for-10 in that span. The 28-year-old appeared to be losing playing time prior to his absence, but he looks like the Athletics' preferred designated hitter for now. He's slashing .248/.342/.479 with 17 homers, 47 RBI, 35 runs scored and two stolen bases through 86 contests overall.

Ford isn't in the Mariners' lineup Saturday against Arizona.

Ford is currently in the middle of an 0-for-13 stretch at the plate across his last four games, so he'll take a seat Saturday to regroup. Cal Raleigh will fill in as Seattle's designated hitter, allowing Tom Murphy to start behind the dish and bat seventh.

Ohtani (calves) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat second Saturday against Toronto, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani has exited early in both of the Angels' last two games, the first time due to cramping in his back and the second time due to cramping in both of his calves. After being re-evaluated Saturday, Ohtani looks like he'll be able to stay in the lineup and serve in his usual DH role, though the Angels will likely keep a close eye on him to ensure his recent cramping doesn't develop into a lingering issue. The two-way star has gone 5-for-18 with four homers, five RBI and seven runs scored in his last five games while also tossing a one-hit shutout during that stretch.

Belt isn't starting Saturday against the Angels.

Southpaw Reid Detmers will start on the mound for Los Angeles, meaning Belt will remain in the dugout for the start of Saturday's game. Danny Jansen will instead serve as Toronto's DH while Alejandro Kirk starts behind the plate and bats seventh.

Ohtani was lifted from Friday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays in the ninth inning after experiencing cramping in both of his calves, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. He went 2-for-4 with a solo home run -- his 39th of the season -- before exiting.

Before exiting the second game of the Angels' doubleheader with the Tigers on Thursday due to cramping, Ohtani slugged home runs in his final two plate appearances of the day. After being cleared to serve as the Angels' designated hitter Friday, Ohtani took Kevin Gausman deep in the first inning to bring his streak to three consecutive plate appearances with a long ball. Ohtani couldn't finish the game, however, as he was pulled in favor of pinch hitter Michael Stefanic in the ninth even though the bases were loaded. Angels manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will be re-evaluated Saturday, but the skipper noted that at this stage, he's "not even thinking" about the possibility of the two-way superstar going on the injured list, per the Associated Press. Even if Ohtani's re-evaluation reveals nothing concerning, it wouldn't be surprising if he received a day off Saturday after exiting early in each of the past two games. Nevin has already noted that Ohtani will make his next start as a pitcher this coming Thursday at home versus the Mariners, allowing the 29-year-old to get six days' rest rather than his usual five after he tossed a season-high 111 pitches in his one-hit shutout of the Tigers in Game 1 of this past Thursday's doubleheader.