MLB Player News

Canha went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a run-scoring double in a win over the Royals on Sunday.

Canha returned refreshed after a day off Saturday, plating runs in both the third and sixth inning. The veteran now has four multi-RBI efforts since June 2, and he's driven in almost half (12) of his 27 runs on the season during that stretch while pushing his average with runners in scoring position to .327.

Choi (groin) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Choi recently appeared in two games at extended spring training, and manager Kevin Cash was impressed with the first baseman's progress. He had been on the injured list since June 2 but will return to action after spending just over the minimum amount of time on the shelf. Mike Brosseau was sent down in a corresponding move.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a steal in Sunday's 14-3 win over the Twins.

Alvarez's sixth-inning blast was his ninth of the season and just his second since May 13. The 6-foot-5 slugger also stole the first base of his MLB career. He owns an .873 OPS with 35 RBI and 25 extra-base hits on the year.

Brantley went 3-for-5 with three doubles, four RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 14-3 win over Minnesota.

After seeing his 10-game hitting streak end Saturday, Brantley got right back to it with a massive day at the plate Sunday. He doubled in two runs in the sixth inning and later knocked a two-run single in the seventh. It was his third multi-hit effort in the last four games and sixth in the last 11 games. The star outfielder is now slashing .337/.381/.497 with 23 extra-base hits this season.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Ohtani has played 6.1 innings in the corner outfield this season, but the Angels have thus far been unwilling to have him make a start in the field on his non-pitching days. With no designated-hitter spot available at Chase Field, Ohtani will be limited to a bench role for the second day in a row.

Manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that Choi's (groin) two games at extended spring training went "really well" and that the first baseman will be further evaluated Sunday before potentially being activated Monday in Chicago, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

While Cash didn't explicitly say that Choi will be reinstated for the series against the White Sox, things appear to be trending in that direction. Choi has been on the shelf since suffering a left groin strain June 2 and could return after barely eclipsing the minimum stay on the IL.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton (hip) will travel with the team Monday for the start of the Twins' three-game series in Seattle, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Baldelli didn't explicitly say when Buxton will be activated from the 10-day injured list, but this update points toward the outfielder being reinstated soon. Baldelli did mention that Buxton is dealing with some soreness following his rehab assignment and that the center fielder will go through a full workout Monday and then likely again Tuesday, per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton has been out since May 6 with a Grade 2 hip strain and has appeared in three rehab games for Triple-A St. Paul, going 5-for-10 with two home runs, a double and a triple.

Mercedes is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Tigers, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Mercedes will get a breather as Jose Abreu moves to DH and Yasmani Grandal shifts to first base Sunday. Mercedes is just 6-for-33 with no homers in June, though he did log two hits in Saturday's win.

Solak is batting just .161 (15-for-93) against right-handers since May 1, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Solak was held out of Saturday's starting lineup against Dodgers right-hander Trevor Bauer in what could be a more regular occurrence. He was replaced by Eli White, who recently has played the outfield but came up through the system as a utility infielder. White was hitless with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's game.

Mercedes went 2-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 15-2 win over the Tigers.

Mercedes has hit his first sustained slump, entering Saturday's contest with just eight hits over his past 64 at-bats (.125 average). Manager Tony La Russa tried moving him to second in the order the previous two games in an effort to break the slump. A positive sign is that Saturday's effort was the third time in the last four games he's had a hit. Despite the slump, Mercedes remains second on the club with 34 RBI.