MLB Player News

Ohtani was scratched from Thursday's start due to transportation issues, but will now start Friday against the Athletics instead, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was on a team bus that got stuck in traffic, so he would not have gotten to the ballpark in time to properly prepare for his start. Instead he will serve as the designated hitter and bat second Thursday, and he will be lined up to take the mound Friday.

After not being in the original lineup, Ohtani will now bat second and serve as the designated hitter Thursday against the Athletics.

Ohtani was scratched from his start on the mound, but he will now be a part of the lineup. He takes the place of Phil Gosselin as the designated hitter.

Ohtani will not be the starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

There has been no explanation yet for the shift in plans, though Ohtani is also not in the batting order for the contest. Patrick Sandoval will take the mound in Ohtani's place.

Ford isn't starting Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against Toronto.

Ford started the first game of the twin bill and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. DJ LeMahieu will shift to first base while Tyler Wade enters the lineup at the keystone.

Ohtani isn't in the lineup as the designated hitter for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Ohtani is serving as the starting pitcher in Thursday's matchup, but he won't be utilized as a two-way player to begin the game. Phil Gosselin will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Cleveland.

Cabrera takes a seat for the day game after he was in the Detroit lineup for each of the past five games, during which he went 4-for-19. The two-time American League MVP is sitting on a career-worst .592 OPS for the season, but the Tigers are unlikely to consider removing him from his everyday role while he remains on the books through 2023. Willi Castro will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter Thursday while Cabrera rests.

Brantley (leg) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley will sit for the second game in a row due to the leg injury, though manager Dusty Baker said the veteran isn't a candidate to land on the injured list as a result of the issue, according to Rome. Aledmys Diaz will pick up a start in left field in place of Brantley, who will get another day of rest Thursday with a team off day before the Astros return to action Friday against the Padres in Houston.

Alvarez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup versus the Dodgers with right wrist soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old was penciled in to bat cleanup as the designated hitter, but he'll instead hit the bench due to the wrist issue. Alvarez is 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts over his past four contests, so the injury could help explain some of his struggles at the plate. He'll have Wednesday plus Thursday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing any additional games.

Stanton (quadriceps) is expected to be activated from the injured list Friday, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

The injury has sidelined Stanton since May 13, at which point he was in a 3-for-22 slump with no home runs in that six-game span. Even so, the slugger will slot in near the top of New York's lineup and figures to re-establish himself as a premier power-hitting threat.

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

The lefty-hitting Choi will retreat to the bench with a southpaw (Mike Minor) on the bump for Kansas City. Yandy Diaz will get the start at first base for the Rays, while Austin Meadows serves as the club's designated hitter.