MLB Player News

Buxton (wrist) may require a short rehab assignment before coming off the injured list, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

He will take batting practice on the field Tuesday and probably again Wednesday or Thursday, ruling out an activation during this home series against the Rays. Miller notes that a rehab assignment would likely only be a game or two, but if he needs to go on one, that could rule him out through the end of the week. Make sure Buxton is out of NFBC lineups for the first half of this week, and he should probably be benched in all weekly lineups where possible.

Stanton went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's 10-8 win over the Blue Jays.

It took him all of five games after returning from his lengthy IL stint for Stanton to join in 2019's home run parade, as he launched a sixth-inning slider from Derek Law over the center-field fence. Assuming he can stay healthy, look for the 29-year-old slugger to quickly make up for lost time in the power department.

Jimenez went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Rangers.

Jimenez continues to emerge from a two-month slumber to start the season, a stretch that included 24 games missed due to an ankle injury. Of his 29 RBI in 51 games, 18 have come in the last 20 games.

Buxton (wrist) could return from the 10-day injured list early next week if his wrist feels well after hitting in a batting cage Sunday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "I can't tell you that he's 100 percent right now, but he's really getting close to that, so we're literally getting down to a discussion of days where it's either one day or the next or the next," said manager Rocco Baldelli.

It sounds like he could return as soon as eligible from the 10-day IL on Tuesday if all goes well. It doesn't sound like the Twins are planning to send him on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win over the Yankees.

Alvarez singled in the first inning before taking J.A. Happ deep in the fifth inning, ending the southpaw's outing. The home run was the youngster's second in as many games and seventh since joining the Astros on June 9. Through 12 games with the big club, Alvarez is now slashing .333/.429/.813 with 16 RBI.

Ohtani is not in the lineup Sunday at St. Louis.

Ohtani is unsurprisingly on the bench for the series finale against the Cardinals since the Angels are once again without the benefit of a designated hitter. The 24-year-old is 0-for-2 as a pinch hitter in the series but should return to his usual role Tuesday at home versus the Reds.

Choi will sit against lefty Brett Anderson and the Athletics on Sunday, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

Choi has mostly been platooned this season, though he had started against two of the last three lefties the Rays had faced. He'll hit the bench Sunday, with Travis d'Arnaud starting at first base.

Choi went 1-for-3 with a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a solo home run in a loss to the Athletics on Saturday.

Choi was essentially the only sign of life for the Rays, with his 391-foot shot to left center in the seventh representing the highlight of the contest for Tampa's moribund offense. Choi has reached safely in four straight games and is enjoying an excellent rebound month, as he's now hitting .304 in June following a .229 figure in May.

Stanton is not in the lineup Sunday against the Astros.

As expected, Stanton will require frequent off days as he works his way back from a long injury layoff. Sunday's contest is his second time out of the lineup in the six games since his return. Brett Gardner starts in left field.

Ohtani remains out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

He'll be out of the lineup for the third game in a row and is expected to sit in Sunday's series finale with no designated hitter available in St. Louis. The Angels will kick off a two-game set Tuesday against another National League team in the Reds, but Ohtani should be back in the lineup for both contests since those games will be played in Anaheim.