MLB Player News

Vientos will start at first base and bat cleanup in Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Vientos appeared to fade into a part-time role a couple of weeks ago, but he's re-emerged as a more stable member of the lineup since Jorge Polanco (wrist) was placed on the injured list April 18. Vientos will claim his ninth start in 11 games Thursday, despite producing a lackluster .231/.333/.346 slash line to go with one home run and two RBI over the prior 10 contests.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Cardinals.

Ozuna is slumping again after a brief hot streak, having gone just 3-for-30 with a 1:11 BB:K over his last nine games. As a result, he has now been absent from the lineup three times in the last six contests. Ryan O'Hearn will get a start at designated hitter Thursday.

Ohtani (2-1) took the loss against Miami on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out nine batters over six innings.

Ohtani was his own worst enemy in the second inning, as he hit Agustin Ramirez with a pitch and subsequently committed a throwing error to gift the Marlins a run. The two-way star yielded just one more run -- only his second earned run allowed so far this season -- the rest of the way, but the usually potent Dodgers offense was able to muster up just one run of support. Ohtani wasn't his sharpest Tuesday, especially in terms of control (his four walks were a season high), but he still pitched very well with 13 whiffs, nine punchouts and his fifth consecutive quality start to begin the campaign. Ohtani didn't serve as a hitter Tuesday, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game that the team could occasionally hold Ohtani out from hitting on days he pitches throughout the campaign, per Jack Harris of the California Post. If that happens often enough, it could have a small impact on Ohtani's offensive stats, though it may also help him continue his dominance on the mound. As it stands, he's been one of baseball's most effective hurlers in the early portion of the season, recording a 0.60 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 34:9 K:BB through 30 innings.

Ohtani is not in the lineup as the designated hitter Tuesday as he takes the mound versus the Marlins.

As was reported Monday, Ohtani is getting a chance to rest his bat as he takes the mound Tuesday so he can have a small break at the plate. Dalton Rushing is the starting designated hitter for the Dodgers and is batting leadoff. The two-way superstar should be back in the lineup as the designated hitter Wednesday.

Ohtani will start Tuesday's game against the Marlins on the mound but won't bat, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

This scenario was rumored to be a possibility prior to Monday's win over Miami, and skipper Dave Roberts confirmed in his postgame presser that Ohtani will be limited to pitching the second game of the series in an effort give him a bit of a break. The two-way player figures to be back in the starting nine in the DH spot for Wednesday afternoon's series finale.

Ohtani, who is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Marlins on the mound, could be held back from hitting, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Manager Dave Roberts stated that the team intends to give Ohtani a break given the fact that the two-way player is pitching on five days of rest instead of his usual six days. The Dodgers also have an early start time Wednesday, making it all the more likely that Ohtani is restricted to pitching only Tuesday. Expect more clarification from the team on the 31-year-old's usage closer to Tuesday's first pitch.

Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, an additional run scored and a walk in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Cubs.

Ohtani reached base in all four of his plate appearances, highlighted by an opposite-field solo homer off Hoby Milner in the seventh inning. It marked the two-way superstar's first long ball since April 12 after he slashed just .182/.294/.250 over his previous 11 games. Ohtani's numbers at the plate may not be as eye-popping as in recent seasons, but he's still slashing .262/.391/.485 with six homers, 12 RBI, 19 runs and three stolen bases while also dominating on the mound with a 0.38 ERA and 0.75 WHIP along with a 2-0 record across 24 innings (four starts).

Harper went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and four RBI in an 8-5 extra-inning win over Atlanta on Saturday.

Harper drove in four runs despite not notching any extra-base hits. He brought home a run on an infield single in the fifth frame, hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth and produced two more runs with a single in the 10th. This was just the third multi-RBI performance of the campaign for Harper, and it was his first multi-hit effort since April 17. Overall, the veteran slugger is slashing .270/.357/.520 with six home runs, 15 runs, 18 RBI and a stolen base through 27 contests.

Ozuna isn't in the Pirates' starting lineup Saturday versus Milwaukee.

Ozuna will take a seat after starting each of Pittsburgh's previous 10 games and batting .262 with two home runs and eight RBI over that span. The veteran slugger's bat may be beginning to perk up, but he still has a poor .487 OPS and 26.1 strikeout rate through 21 games on the campaign. Ryan O'Hearn is getting a day off his feet as the DH in Ozuna's stead Saturday.

Harper went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta.

Harper took Grant Holmes deep on a fastball to lead off the sixth inning, giving Philly a 3-2 lead. It was the first baseman's sixth long ball of the season and second in his last four contests. Harper is one of the lone Phillies swinging a hot bat of late, and he's now slashing .258/.345/.515 with the six homers, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored, one stolen base and a 13:17 BB:K across 110 trips to the dish.