MLB Player News

Ohtani (illness), who isn't serving as the designated hitter Monday against the Rays, is on track to make his next scheduled start Saturday against the Blue Jays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was removed from Sunday's start due to a stomach virus and is getting a breather for Monday's series opener against Tampa Bay. However, the 28-year-old is slated to serve as the designated hitter for the remainder of the series and should be back on the mound this weekend, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani (illness) isn't starting Monday against the Rays.

Ohtani served as the starting pitcher Sunday against the Tigers but was removed from the game due to a stomach virus. He won't start as the designated hitter Monday, as Mike Trout is taking over the DH while Magneuris Sierra starts in center field. It's not yet clear whether Ohtani will be available off the bench if needed.

Miller went 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and a run in Sunday's 7-0 win over the Twins.

The three-RBI performance exceeded Miller's output (two) from his previous 24 games combined, a drought that extends back nearly two months. Even though he's holding down a mediocre .584 OPS for the season, the lefty-hitting Miller appears to have at least resolidified himself as a strong-side platoon player at designated hitter. He'll start at DH in Monday's series finale and will bat eighth.

Choi will sit Monday versus the Angels.

Choi will be on the bench for a third consecutive contest Monday. Isaac Paredes will take over at first base and bat third in the series opener.

Ramirez went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Royals.

Ramirez enjoyed a big weekend against Kansas City, starting in three of the four games of the series while going a collective 7-for-12 with two RBI and two runs. Even with Manuel Margot's recent return from the injured list making the Tampa Bay lineup more crowded these days, Ramirez should have a clear path to a near-everyday role at first base, designated hitter or in a corner-outfield spot.

The Angels announced that Ohtani was removed in the top of the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the Tigers due to a stomach virus. Ohtani struck out two and was charged with three earned runs on five hits and four walks over four innings before departing. He also went 0-for-1 with a walk at the plate.

Ohtani was removed from the contest when his third turn in the batting order came up in the fifth, as Kurt Suzuki came off the bench to pinch hit for the two-way standout. The stomach illness explains at least in part why Ohtani might have labored through one of his worst starts of the season on the mound, as he needed 85 pitches to record 12 outs and threw only 47 strikes. Assuming he's quickly able to move past the stomach ailment, Ohtani shouldn't be forced to miss a turn through the rotation, but his availability for Monday's game in Tampa Bay as a designated hitter is more of a question mark.

Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Oakland.

The lefty-hitting Winker will duck out of the lineup with southpaw JP Sears taking the hill for Oakland. Dylan Moore will step in for Winker as the Mariners' left fielder.

Choi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The lefty-hitting Choi will take a seat for the second consecutive game, this time against a righty (Zack Greinke) after he was excluded from the lineup for Saturday's 5-2 win over southpaw Kris Bubic. Harold Ramirez will pick up a start at first base in Choi's stead.

Buxton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Buxton started each of the past eight games either in center field or at designated hitter, so the Twins are presumably just giving him some routine maintenance in the series finale. Nick Gordon will draw the start in center and Luis Arraez will serve as the Twins' DH on Sunday.

Alvarez (illness) will serve as Houston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter Sunday in Atlanta.

Alvarez suffered a medical scare Friday, when he abruptly experienced shortness of breath and described his condition as being worsened by the smoke from the fireworks at Truist Park that went off earlier in the game. After he was briefly hospitalized as a precaution, Alvarez was discharged when his tests returned normal. The Astros still opted to give Alvarez the day off in Saturday's 5-4 loss, but he feels well enough to step back into the lineup for the series finale.