MLB Player News

Ohtani was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals prior to the fifth inning with an apparent injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports.

Ohtani had a meeting with trainers after warming up for the fifth inning, after which he exited the game and headed straight to the clubhouse. The 23-year-old was seen blowing on his hand/fingers during the game, per Ardaya, suggesting the blisters he dealt with earlier in the season could be back. Ohtani had allowed one run over four innings prior to exiting the game.

Buxton has only made moderate progress in his recovery from a broken toe, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The pain in Buxton's toe is apparently subsiding at a slower rate than expected. He still hasn't resumed baseball activities, and a possible return date for the outfielder likely won't come into focus until he's able to do so. Ryan LaMarre will continue to fill in for the injured Buxton in center field.

Miller entered Tuesday's loss to the Nationals as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and delivered a two-run double in his only at-bat.

As was the case in the Rays' most recent game Sunday, Miller was responsible for the team's only runs via a timely two-bagger. He did it in a pinch-hit capacity this time around, as he was called on in place of reliever Wilmer Font in the eighth inning with Tampa facing a 4-0 deficit. With the recent departure of Denard Span via trade, Miller's 21 RBI put him behind only C.J. Cron and Wilson Ramos on the team in that category.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Tigers.

Martinez, a former Tiger, touched up his old team early, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning which was all Steven Wright needed. The long ball was his fifth in the last 10 games, and he became the first player in the majors to reach 20 home runs. He had left his previous game with back spasms, but it looks like that was a precautionary move, as Martinez didn't miss any additional time.

Ohtani is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.

As per usual, Ohtani will head to the bench Tuesday as he continues to be withheld from the lineup the day before he pitches. Mike Trout is serving as the DH and hitting third in his stead.

Martinez (back) is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's matchup against Detroit, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Martinez exited Sunday's tilt with back spasms, but it appears he's good to go, as he's slated to start in the series opener. He's penciled into the lineup as the designated hitter and will bat third.

Solak, obtained from the Yankees as part of a three-team deal in February, is slashing .305/.414/.477 with 18 extra-base hits (nine doubles, two triples, seven home runs) and 33 RBI across 239 plate appearances with Double-A Montgomery.

The 2016 second-round selection is playing up to his draft pedigree, and he's added nine stolen bases to his impressive body of work. The 23-year-old has displayed more patience at the plate this season than in any of his three previous stops, as evidenced by a career-high 13.8 percent walk rate. Solak has risen through the minor-league ranks at a brisk pace thus far, and it's possible he logs time at Triple-A Durham before the 2018 campaign concludes.

Jimenez was named the Southern League Player of the Month for May, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jimenez led the circuit in OPS (1.082), hits (40), extra-base hits (18) and slugging (.664) for Double-A Birmingham in May. He was also tied for third in home runs (six) and second in RBI (25). The White Sox's top prospect is currently riding a 13-game hitting streak and owns the league's longest streak of the season (15). The 21-year-old, who's expected to reach Chicago at some point this season, is confident he can hit in the majors now, but with only 60 games of experience at Double-A, the White Sox may take the conventional approach and give him exposure to Triple-A before he lands in the Windy City.

Cabrera went a combined 2-for-8 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored across both games of Monday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Cabrera returned to the lineup on Friday after missing 27 games with a hamstring issue, so it's a good sign to see him healthy enough to play both games Monday. The Tigers did exercise some caution by having the 35-year-old DH in Game 1, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Cabrera rotate frequently between first base and DH the rest of the way to keep his hamstring fresh. However, his first base eligibility is likely set in most leagues, and fantasy owners just want to see his bat in Detroit's lineup as often as possible.

Ohtani is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Ohtani is just 4-for-28 (.143) against left-handed pitchers this season, so it does not come as a major surprise he is being held out against Royals southpaw Danny Duffy. Ohtani could pinch hit Monday if need be, but he is scheduled to start on the mound Wednesday and has not hit the day before he pitches all season, so don't expect to see his name listed in the Angels' batting order until Friday.