MLB Player News

Brantley (knee) isn't expected to return to action until Friday at the earliest, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley sits for his third straight game Tuesday against Texas while he deals with right knee discomfort, and it looks like his streak of absences will stretch to at least five games before he returns to action. The Astros elected not to place him on the injured list, however, which indicates some level of confidence that he'll be back in the next few days. When he eventually returns, he's expected to initially serve as the designated hitter.

Ramirez is sitting out the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Twins.

The outfielder started Game 1, collecting two hits and a run. Ramirez now has three multi-hit games in his last seven contests. He will be replaced in left field by Oscar Mercado, who will bat ninth.

Torrens is not starting Tuesday against Boston.

Torrens will retreat to the bench after being in the starting nine during the previous six games. Jake Bauers is slated to DH and bat eighth Tuesday.

Brantley (knee) remains on the bench for Tuesday's game against Texas, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley has been out since leaving Saturday's game against the Angels with right knee discomfort. He'll sit for the third straight game, with Chas McCormick starting in left field.

Collins was called up by the White Sox on Tuesday.

Collins provides additional catcher depth behind Yasmani Grandal, taking over the backup spot from Seby Zavala, who was optioned in a corresponding transaction. There could also be more at-bats available elsewhere for a bat-first player like Collins with Andrew Vaughn (back) landing on the injured list, but Collins' .202/.324/.331 season slash line suggests he shouldn't be spending much time as a designated hitter.

Martinez went 0-for-3 with a walk in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Mariners.

Martinez returned to the lineup after missing three games with tightness in his back.

Alvarez increased his pre-game workouts at first base over recent days, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez's typical pre-game routine involves taking groundballs at first base, but the level of the activity increased and he's nearing the point of playing there in a game. Houston manager Dusty Baker wanted to put him there in a game last week -- during last week's blowout 11-2 win over the Mariners -- but Alvarez felt he wasn't ready yet. "We feel he can do it, just in the future. He's been working there a lot," Baker said. First base is not foreign to Alvarez, who made 39 starts there in the minors.

Alvarez 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, four runs and a walk in Monday's win over the Rangers.

The 24-year-old took Wes Benjamin deep in the second inning with Jose Altuve on base and then hit a solo blast in the seventh off of Hyeon-Jong Yang. Alvarez is now at 30 homers and 94 RBI on the season, both of which are career highs. The home runs were his first since August 29 and he had struggled to a .241 batting average with only two RBI over 10 games in the month of September prior to Monday.

Buxton went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in the loss to the Yankees on Monday.

The outfielder launched a homer off of Luis Gil in the third inning and then notched a single in the fifth. It was his third consecutive multi-hit game and his fifth in his last eight contests. Buxton has gone deep four times in seven games, raising his season total to 14.

Martinez (back) is in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Martinez was held out of Sunday's series finale due to a back issue, but he's been given the green light to participate in Monday's contest. He'll serve as the DH and bat fifth.