MLB Player News

Rooker went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Reds.

Rooker has been a much-needed bright spot for this struggling Athletics team. The former Twin is now tied for fifth in the league with his eight long balls and sports an impressive 1.213 OPS through 62 at-bats. The outfielder is already about to pass his career-high of nine homers in a season, which he hit in 2021 for Minnesota.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Alvarez (neck) is doing better and currently participating in pregame activities, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

When asked if Alvarez was available off the bench for Friday's game against the Phillies, Baker wouldn't say, claiming that the opposition "might be listening." Alvarez is missing his fourth consecutive contest due to tightness in his neck, but it's obviously a positive sign that the slugger is participating in warmups. Assuming no setbacks, there's a good chance he's back in the lineup for Houston by the end of the weekend.

Manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Friday's game against the Phillies that Brantley (shoulder) doesn't have an at-bat or innings threshold to reach on his rehab assignment before rejoining the Astros, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

"We kind of leave that up to Mike a little bit," Baker said when asked about when the veteran outfielder will be ready. Brantley has yet to make his 2023 debut while recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery he underwent in August, and he's played three rehab games thus far for Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming no setbacks, it seems likely that Brantley is up with the Astros in the early part of May.

Alvarez (neck) is out of the lineup again Friday versus the Phillies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez hasn't appeared in a game since last Sunday due to a lingering neck injury, but the fact that the Astros have yet to place him on the IL suggests that there have been recent signs of progress. Rylan Bannon will serve as the DH and bat eighth Friday in the series opener of this World Series rematch with Philadelphia. Corey Julks is in left field and hitting sixth.

Reyes is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Twins, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Reyes will sit for the second time in three games Friday, heading to the bench after he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Thursday's loss. The slugger has now gone hitless in 13 at-bats since he returned from the paternity list Monday. Vinnie Pasquantino will take over at designated hitter while Nick Pratto starts at first base and bats sixth against Minnesota.

Miller was held out of Thursday's lineup against right-hander Gerrit Cole of the Yankees.

Even with players unavailable at two positions he can handle defensively -- Josh Jung (hand) at third base and Travis Jankowski (hip) in left field -- Miller could not crack the starting nine against Cole. The veteran has taken 44 of his 45 plate appearances this season against righties, but even with the platoon advantage, Miller has one hit over his last 14 at-bats and is batting .184 through 13 games.

Buxton went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 7-1 win over Kansas City.

Buxton's three-run homer broke the game open in the fourth inning, extending Minnesota's lead to 6-1. The 29-year-old is slashing .244/.305/.488 so far this season, and he now has hits in six of his last seven games.

Rooker went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Thursday's loss to the Angels.

Rooker's lone hit of the contest was a productive one, as he slammed a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in the fourth inning to put Oakland on the board. It was the third long ball in the four-game series for Rooker, and he knocked in seven runs over that span. Rooker leads the Athletics with seven homers and 18 RBI on the campaign.

Ohtani (4-0) earned the win over Oakland on Thursday, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over six innings. He also went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two runs and an RBI at the plate.

Ohtani started out the game on fire, retiring each of the first nine batters he faced, including five by strikeout. However, he uncharacteristically unraveled in the fourth frame, hitting two batters, issuing two walks, uncorking two wild pitches and serving up two homers as Oakland put up five runs. To his credit. Ohtani bounced back by retiring six of the final seven batters he faced, and he was rewarded with a victory for his efforts. The two-way star contributed to his win on the mound with a big day at the dish, falling a homer shy of the cycle and nearly completing the feat when he fell a few feet short of leaving the park in the eighth inning.

Ramirez is not in the lineup Thursday against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's a lineup that is heavy on left-handed and switch-hitters for this matchup against ace right-hander Dylan Cease. Brandon Lowe will DH and Taylor Walls is at second base. Ramirez is sitting on a terrific .354/.417/.677 slash line through 72 plate appearances on the year.