MLB Player News

Cabrera (cramps) will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter and bat cleanup Monday against the Twins.

After he experienced cramping in Saturday's 5-2 win over Cleveland, Cabrera was held out of the lineup Sunday in the series finale, though manager A.J. Hinch suggested that the veteran would have likely been held out for maintenance purposes regardless of his health. In any case, Cabrera seems to be fully recovered following the day off, so he'll slot back into his familiar spot in the heart of the Detroit lineup as the Tigers open a three-game set with Minnesota.

Manager Joe Maddon said after Sunday's 7-4 win over the White Sox that Ohtani (ankle) won't start at designated hitter in Monday's series opener versus the Astros, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Though Maddon downplayed the severity of the ankle injury Ohtani suffered in his home-plate collision with Jose Abreu on Sunday, the Angels will understandably take some extra precaution with the two-way standout heading into their second series of the season. According to Bollinger, Maddon said that Ohtani will be getting a day off for maintenance purposes more than anything, as the 26-year-old had hit in all four games of the series with Chicago in addition to pitching 4.2 innings (92 pitches) Sunday. Ohtani could still be available as a pinch-hitter Monday, which would seem to suggest that he'll be on track to serve as a DH at some point during the series with Houston. And assuming he makes it through a bullpen session in the next couple of days without incident, Ohtani is lined up to make his second start as a pitcher next Sunday versus the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.

Solak batted fifth and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Royals.

Solak began the season as an unlikely cleanup batter but was dropped to fifth Sunday. With Nate Lowe off to a productive start as the fifth-place hitter, he was moved up to offer more protection for Joey Gallo, who walked five times in the first two games.

Ohtani isn't dealing with anything worse than general soreness and was not removed from Sunday's game due to injury, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani's final play of the game involved Jose Abreu crashing into him at home plate, but he was able to walk off under his own power. He'd thrown 92 pitches and was beginning to lose his control in his final frame, so it's no surprise that he was going to be done for the day even without the collision. He could get the day off Monday to rest even if his reevaluation confirms that he's escaped serious injury, but it doesn't appear as though the Angels are concerned about him missing his next start.

Ohtani left Sunday's game against the White Sox following a collision at home plate, though he was able to walk off under his own power, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani struck out Yoan Moncada for what would have been the final out of the fifth inning, but the ball got away from catcher Max Stassi, who then overthrew Jared Walsh at first base. Two runners came around to score, with Jose Abreu sliding into Ohtani's ankle at the conclusion of the play. Ohtani was likely to leave the game anyway, however, as he'd thrown 92 pitches and was getting into trouble. Prior to wild final play, Ohtani was having exactly the sort of game that made him so hyped when he first crossed the Pacific, hitting the hardest-hit ball of the season while throwing the fastest pitches of any starter thus far this year. He left the game after going 1-for-3 with a solo homer on the offensive side and allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and five walks while striking out seven in 4.2 innings on the mound.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI in Sunday's loss to the Orioles.

Martinez has been the lone bright spot in Boston's lineup to start the year, looking like the 2019 rather than 2020 version of himself. The right-handed hitter was the only Red Sox batter to give Orioles starter Bruce Zimmermann trouble all day, smacking a solo shot off him in the fourth and hitting an RBI double in the sixth. The 33-year-old has a career .290/.354/.530 slash line, and the Red Sox will benefit greatly if he can approach those numbers this season.

Reyes went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's victory over the Tigers.

Reyes cracked a two-run shot in the eighth inning off Buck Farmer. The 25-year-old looks to follow up on his 2020 campaign during which he slashed .275/.344/.450.

Buxton is dealing with some sort of bug that is not related to COVID-19, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The Twins will keep evaluating him Sunday evening and Monday to determine his availability ahead of next week's series in Detroit. Jake Cave will man center field while Brent Rooker and Kyle Garlick get time in left field if Buxton misses any more time.

The Twins announced that Buxton was removed in the third inning of Sunday's game against the Brewers due to a non-COVID-19-related illness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Fantasy managers who worried about what might have caused Buxton's early departure can rest easy knowing that the outfielder wasn't pulled due to any injury. While Buxton missed out on a few at-bats as a result, he still turned in a big season-opening series for the Twins, going 3-for-8 with two home runs, a double, three RBI, two runs and a stolen base. The Twins moved him up to the No. 3 spot in the order Sunday, and Buxton -- once healthy -- looks like he could occupy a spot in the heart of the lineup while Minnesota waits for Josh Donaldson (hamstring) to return from the 10-day injured list.

Buxton was removed in the top of the third inning of Sunday's game against the Brewers due to an unspecified injury, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. He recorded a double in his lone at-bat before departing.

Brent Rooker came off the bench to pinch-hit for Buxton when his turn in the lineup came up, but an official explanation for the outfielder's removal hasn't been provided. Buxton tormented Brewers pitching during the three-game series, going 3-for-8 with a pair of home runs, two walks and a stolen base in addition to the double. Expect the Twins to provide an update on Buxton's condition later Sunday.