MLB Player News

Carpenter isn't in the lineup Friday against Kansas City.

Carpenter is on the bench for a second consecutive matchup after going 3-for-16 with a homer, two runs, an RBI, a walk and six strikeouts over the last five games. Andrew Benintendi, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge are starting in the outfield from left to right.

Ohtani (9-6) allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out 11 in six innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Rangers.

Ohtani put in a solid pitching performance, but a Nathaniel Lowe solo home run and a Corey Seager RBI double accounted for the only two runs of the game. At the plate, Ohtani went 0-for-4, while the Angels had just five hits in the contest. The two-way star has double-digit strikeouts in each of his last six starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) across 39 innings in that span. He owns a 2.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 145:23 K:BB through 99.1 innings overall.

Miller (neck) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment over the weekend, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Miller was placed on the injured list at the start of the second half with a neck strain and was first eligible to be activated Thursday. While he won't make it back that quickly, he could realistically return during the team's upcoming series against Baltimore to begin August.

Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that Brantley (shoulder) has yet to resume swinging a bat, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It was reported last week that Brantley was close to taking swings, but it appears the veteran outfielder still hasn't been cleared. The 35-year-old's recovery from the shoulder injury, which put him on the injured list in late June, has been slow, and it's unclear when he's expected to retake the field for the Astros.

Lewis isn't starting Thursday against Houston.

Lewis started the last two games and went 1-for-6 with an RBI, a walk and four strikeouts. Dylan Moore is taking his place in right field and batting ninth.

Carpenter is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Carpenter went 3-for-15 with a solo home run and a walk while starting each of the last four games in right field, and though it's Joey Gallo who will replace him in the lineup Thursday, the acquisition of Andrew Benintendi is more likely to dampen Carpenter's playing-time outlook moving forward. Giancarlo Stanton's (Achilles) recent move to the injured list temporarily alleviates the logjam in the corner outfield and at designated hitter, but once Stanton is healthy, the likes of Carpenter, Aaron Hicks and Gallo could all see their opportunities take a hit.

Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in a 4-2 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday.

Alvarez turned on a 90 mph fastball that Cole Irvin left on the inner half of the plate for his 29th home run and 67th RBI of the season. The line drive blast was complemented by two walks and Alvarez now has a .413 OBP to go along with a .674 SLG. The elite 25-year-old slugger has reached base in seven straight games.

Choi went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run Wednesday against the Orioles.

Choi took Tyler Wells yard in the opening inning to record his eighth home run of the season. He continues to have a regular role against right-handed pitching but has managed only a .224/.325/.358 line across 77 plate appearances in July. Overall, Choi has maintained a 134 wRC+ and .351 wOBA in 279 plate appearances for the season.

Carpenter will start in right field and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Mets.

He'll man right field for the fourth game in a row and should serve as the primary option at the position following Giancarlo Stanton's (Achilles) placement on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Carpenter has been cold out of the All-Star break with a 2-for-18 showing at the plate, but he's still holding down a monstrous 1.221 OPS through 118 plate appearances on the season.

Lewis went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday, extending his second-half on-base streak to five games.

Lewis is still on the hunt for his first extra-base hit since returning from an extended injured-list stint due to a concussion, but he's at least managed to be a constant presence on the basepaths since returning to action. The 27-year-old outfielder's talent and powerful bat will undoubtedly rectify the lack of impactful hits eventually, but for the time being, Lewis is at least tiding fantasy managers over after his prolonged absence.