MLB Player News

Buxton went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, a double and two runs in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Royals.

Buxton led off the second inning with a double to right and came around to score the first run of the game. He then ignited a seven-run third inning with a three-run blast to left that traveled 453 feet. The 29-year-old has four home runs in his last five games and is up to a slash line of .258/.324/.557 with seven homers, 17 RBI, 19 runs and a 10:34 BB:K over 108 plate appearances.

Jimenez was limited during Sunday's win over the Rays due to leg soreness, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Manager Pedro Grifol revealed after Sunday's matchup that Jimenez wasn't feeling 100 percent healthy before the game. However, Grifol wanted Jimenez's bat in the lineup, and the 26-year-old delivered with a performance in which he went 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI before being replaced by a pinch runner in the bottom of the ninth inning. It's encouraging that Jimenez had a solid performance Sunday, but he'll presumably be monitored ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Twins.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a pair of stolen bases in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.

All three of Ohtani's hits Saturday were singles, allowing him multiple opportunities to utilize his speed on the basepaths. The two-way star stole second and then third base in the eighth inning, but the Angels were unable to bring him home. Ohtani has five thefts on the campaign to pair with his six homers. He's one of 10 players in MLB to thus far collect at least five in each category.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Cabrera has a clearer path to playing time at designated hitter with Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) recently landing on the injured list, but it comes as little surprise that the 40-year-old will take a seat for Sunday's matinee after he started in the second leg of Saturday's doubleheader. Nick Maton will serve as the Tigers' DH in Cabrera's stead.

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

Belt is 0-for-9 with two walks and four strikeouts in his past three games and will head to the bench Sunday with southpaw Marco Gonzales pitching for Seattle. Alejandro Kirk will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Danny Jansen works behind the plate.

Buxton went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Royals.

The 29-year-old accounted for all of the Twins' offense, crossing the plate in the fourth inning on a Brad Keller wild pitch before taking Taylor Clarke deep in the seventh. Buxton has been flexing his muscles lately, with four of his six homers on the season coming in his last seven games -- a stretch in which he's also driven in eight runs.

Ramirez was out of the lineup Saturday against the White Sox.

Jose Siri's return has crowded the Rays' lineup, and Ramirez is the early playing time loser by sitting in three of the team's last five games. Particularly alarming for Ramirez is that the team has opted to keep Taylor Walls in the lineup due to his strong defense, which has forced Brandon Lowe to serve as the designated hitter -- one of Ramirez's primary paths to playing time. Even with a 1.033 OPS across 76 plate appearances, Ramirez's role with the club is currently unclear.

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double Saturday against the Phillies.

Alvarez returned from a four-game absence caused by a neck injury and hit third while serving as the designated hitter. He was one of the few bright spots in the Astros' lineup as he managed to reach base at least three times for the third time in 21 games this season. Overall, Alvarez is hitting .269/.383/.551 across 94 plate appearances.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that Brantley (shoulder) will play some first base on his minor-league rehab assignment, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Baker added that Brantley will see action at first base here and there once he returns to the active roster, probably around the second week of May. The rehabbing veteran started in left field in his first three games with Triple-A Sugar Land before taking a turn at designated hitter Friday. He's on his way back from surgery last August to repair the labrum in his right shoulder.

Alvarez (neck) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and bat third versus the Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler after missing nearly a full week of action because of neck tightness. He returns Saturday to a .900 OPS with six home runs and a whopping 27 RBI through 20 games.