MLB Player News

Brantley went 3-for-4 with a solo homer while scoring twice in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.

Brantley smashed a solo shot in the eighth inning following his single and double earlier in the game. The 33-year-old has been nothing but productive since coming to Houston, and that appears likely to continue this season.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with three RBI in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.

Alvarez's return was much anticipated, given that the 2019 Rookie of the Year only recorded eight at-bats in 2020 while dealing with injuries. Alvarez picked up where he left off his first campaign with a huge double that was just shy of clearing the fence in the sixth inning to knock in two. He later recorded a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. The Astros are certainly happy to have the 23-year-old's potential pop return to an already explosive lineup.

Soler went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, two RBI, a pair of walks and two runs scored during Thursday's Opening Day win over the Rangers.

Coming off an oblique injury that derailed most of his 2020 season, Soler sprung out with a solid start against Texas, reaching base in each at-bat. The 29-year-old added an exclamation point by evening the score at 8-8 with a solo home run against Kyle Cody in the fourth inning. After a 48-homer campaign in 2019, Soler scuffled to a .228/.326/.443 line last year, but he's a prime candidate to bounce back this season.

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and two walks during Thursday's extra-inning loss against the Brewers.

Buxton launched his first homer of the season in the seventh inning against Eric Yardley, but he also reached base in three of his five plate appearances. The talented outfielder has launched double-digit homers in each of the last four seasons in which he played at least 50 percent of the games, and he's certainly off to a good start to 2021. There are few questions about the tools here; the key for Buxton will be staying healthy.

Ohtani will serve as the team's designated hitter Friday and could Saturday as well, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's status was uncertain after he dealt with a blister earlier in the week, but he's in the Opening Day lineup and appears headed for a full workload. In addition to his DH duties, Ohtani is slated to make his debut on the mound Sunday, and he won't have a pitch limit despite not being fully stretched out.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second as the designated hitter in Thursday's game against the White Sox, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani exited Monday's spring start as a pitcher due to a blister, but he'll be in the starting lineup for the team's Opening Day matchup. It's not yet clear whether Ohtani will be able to make his scheduled 2021 debut as a pitcher against the White Sox on Sunday, but it's encouraging to see him hitting Thursday.

Cabrera went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 3-2 win over Cleveland.

Cabrera started at first base during Thursday's season opener and put the Tigers on the board with the first home run of MLB's 2021 regular season. The 37-year-old served exclusively as the designated hitter in 2020 but expressed a desire to play the field more this year. While Cabrera is unlikely to see extensive time at first base, he could pick up fantasy eligibility there in most leagues around the end of April.

The White Sox placed Jimenez (pectoral) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Jimenez is expected to be sidelined for about 4-to-5 months after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a torn left pectoral tendon, so Chicago's decision to place him on the 60-day IL rather than the 10-day IL won't have any bearing on his timeline for making his 2021 debut. The transaction opened up a spot on the 40-man roster for Billy Hamilton, who will begin the season as a reserve outfielder for the White Sox.

Martinez and the Red Sox won't play the Orioles on Thursday after their Opening Day game was postponed due to rain, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The two teams are now scheduled to play their season opener Friday, which was initially set to be an off day for both sides.

Lewis (knee) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Lauren Smith of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Lewis missed the end of spring training due to a right knee injury, and he was recently diagnosed with a deep bone bruise. Manager Scott Servais said that the team wants to give Lewis "a couple of weeks" to recover, although the 25-year-old doesn't have any structural damage. Taylor Trammell will start in center field in his absence, while Jake Fraley should also see additional playing time for Seattle.