MLB Player News

Belt went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a two-run home run in Friday's 6-1 victory over the Yankees.

Belt extended Toronto's lead to 4-1 with a two-run homer off Domingo German in the sixth and added to the lead with a two-run double in the eighth. The veteran first baseman had just three extra-base hits (all doubles) and one RBI heading into Friday's contest. Belt is still slashing just .186/.255/349 though 12 games (47 plate appearances).

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Friday against Atlanta.

Alvarez was hitless when he came to the plate in the ninth inning, but he changed that by blasting a game-winning two-run homer. He now has five long balls on the season, with this being his first since April 14. Overall, Alvarez is hitting .262/.388/.538 across 80 plate appearances on the campaign.

Ohtani (3-0) earned the win Friday, as he didn't allow a run on two hits and two walks over seven innings against the Royals. He struck out 11.

Ohtani dazzled Friday, punching out a season-high 11 while lowering his ERA to 0.64 and his WHIP to 0.82. The two-way star has posted incredible numbers as a pitcher this season, but opposing lineups will get tougher down the road as he has faced the A's, Royals and Nationals in three of his first five starts. That's a worry for later, though -- his next start is currently scheduled to be a rematch with Oakland.

Rooker (hamstring) is back in the Athletics' lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers, Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback reports.

It will be his first time playing since he was lifted from Tuesday's contest versus the Cubs with a hamstring issue. Rooker is in the designated hitter spot and batting third against Jon Gray.

Reyes was placed on the paternity leave list by the Royals on Friday.

Reyes can be away from the club for up to three days while he tends to much more important matters. The Royals will likely rotate some players through the designated hitter spot over the weekend while Reyes is away.

Buxton is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox.

Buxton is in the middle of a 1-for-19 rut at the dish, so he'll get a day off to regroup. Jose Miranda is at the designated hitter spot Thursday, while Willi Castro is covering Miranda's usual spot at third base.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said prior to Wednesday's game against the Cubs that Rooker is dealing with a hamstring contusion and is unlikely to be available off the bench, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Kotsay had previously described Rooker's removal from Tuesday's 4-0 loss to Chicago as precautionary, but the fact that the 28-year-old isn't available off the bench for the series finale suggests that the Athletics have slightly more concern than they initially let on. The Athletics have a well-timed off day Thursday, so the club will wait and see how Rooker responds to the two-day respite before deciding on his status for Friday's series opener in Texas.

Rooker (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Rooker was removed from Tuesday's 4-0 loss for what the Athletics described as precautionary purposes, but he'll take a seat for the series finale nonetheless. Carlos Perez will operate as the designated hitter while Rooker sits.

Ramirez will sit Wednesday versus the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Ramirez will get a day off after he went 4-for-9 with a run scored over the first two contests of the series, extending his hit streak to six games. Randy Arozarena will slide into the designated hitter role while Luke Raley takes over in left field and bats fourth in the series finale.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Yankees.

Ohtani wasted no time making an impact Tuesday. He took a hanging breaking ball from Clarke Schmidt and sent it out over the right-field wall in a hurry to give the Angels a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth home run of the season and put him up to 11 RBI. The 28-year-old has been seeing the ball well over the first few weeks and is now slashing .300/.382/.533 to go with a 0.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB through 21 innings.