MLB Player News

Ohtani will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat fifth against the Yankees on Friday.

Ohtani returns to the Angels lineup after receiving a few days of rest due to Tuesday's start on the mound and Thursday's off day. The 23-year-old should be available to hit in all three games of the weekend series against the Yankees, as he is next slated to start against the Orioles next Tuesday.

Soler went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and a strikeout in Thursday's loss to the White Sox.

Soler is walking at an elite clip -- 18.2 percent of the time -- this year, which has contributed greatly to a .416 OBP, the 17th highest in the league. He sports an inflated .375 BABIP, but the 26-year-old is showing improved power at the plate (six extra-base hits, two home runs in 61 at-bats), which is likely a result of swinging at better pitches.

Buxton's migraines went away a week ago but his sore left big toe remains a problem, the Star Tribune reports.

Buxton is eligible to return from the disabled list but remains unable to get back to game action after fouling a ball off his toe in a rehab game Sunday. He had to have a hole drilled in his left big toenail in order to reduce the pressure on the toe. The Twins would like him to get some at-bats in another rehab game or two but may skip that in order to get him back with the team. When exactly that will be possible remains unclear, however.

Miller went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs in a win over the Orioles on Thursday.

Miller finally notched his first multi-hit performance of the season in what was his 14th game overall. The struggling infielder vaulted his average over the Mendoza Line with the effort, which included his third extra-base hit of the season. Although his average remains an underwhelming .213, Miller has encouragingly hit safely in three of the five games he's played since coming off a disabled list stint due to a groin injury.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Boston's 5-4 victory over Toronto on Thursday.

Martinez got off to a relatively slow start with his new club, but that can be considered a thing of the past as his fifth-inning blast off Marco Estrada brought his slash line up to .306/.351/.565 with five home runs and 18 RBI. He looks primed for another prolific power-hitting campaign coming off a 2017 season split between Detroit and Arizona in which he clubbed 45 home runs and slugged a ridiculous .690 in only 119 games.

Cabrera is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates.

Cabrera will get off for the second game of Wednesday's twin bill after going 4-for-6 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored in Game 1. Niko Goodrum will start at first base and hit cleanup in his stead.

Vogelbach was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma following Wednesday's win over the White Sox, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Vogelbach parlayed a spectacular spring training into a big-league roster spot and even got regular playing time for a while due to various injuries. However, with Ryon Healy (ankle) nearing a return from the disabled list, the big slugger was set to be blocked from regular time. Vogelbach will mash away for the Rainiers after producing a .212 batting average and two home runs in 52 at-bats with Seattle.

Buxton (migraines, toe) will not return to extended spring training games Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The speedy outfielder managed to hit off a tee Wednesday, but he's apparently still not feeling good enough to return to game action. Bollinger added that the team medical staff had to drill into his left big toe to relieve pressure in it after he suffered the injury, which seems like it could delay his return to action further.

Ohtani's blister has calloused over, so he doesn't expect it to be an issue for the rest of the season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The blister was blamed for Ohtani's poor third start, when he exited after allowing three runs on four hits and a pair of walks in just two innings. It wasn't thought to be an issue for his fourth start Tuesday in Houston, though he still struggled, allowing four runs on six hits and an ugly five walks in 5.1 innings. Those two starts may have knocked a bit of the shine off the exciting young two-way player, as his ERA now stands at an unremarkable 4.43, but there's hope that with the blister issue fully behind him he can get back the dominating stuff he showed in his first two starts.

Ohtani allowed four runs on six hits and five walks while striking out seven over 5.1 innings in Tuesday's win over the Astros. He did not factor into the decision.

Ohtani exited after just two innings due to a blister his last time out, and though that issue subsided, he didn't seem to have his best stuff most of the night Tuesday. The five walks, six hits and four runs were all his worst marks in any of his four starts. Even still, the 23-year-old left in line for the win and struck out seven to raise his K/9 up to 11.5. His next start on the hill figures to come next week in a home series against the Orioles.