MLB Player News

Ozuna went 3-for-5 with a walk, two doubles, three runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's 17-7 rout of the Reds.

The six combined runs and RBI were a season high for the veteran DH, while the multi-hit performance was Ozuna's first since April 18. It's been a tough start to his first campaign with Pittsburgh, and even after Saturday's effort he's slashing .185/..254/.306 with three homers and 13 RBI in 28 games.

Torrens signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract extension with the Mets on Saturday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Torrens' extension will ensure that he sticks with the Mets through the 2028 season. The 30-year-old backstop has struggled at the plate this season, logging a .467 OPS through 31 plate appearances, but he makes up for his lack of offensive production with his incredible defensive skills. He'll likely continue serving as a backup to Francisco Alvarez as long as the two are both in Queens.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Friday against the Reds.

Ozuna went yard in the fifth inning to record his third home run of the season and first since April 18 -- a span of 10 games and eight starts. He continues to hit poorly to begin the year, as he's batting just .118 with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate in his last 10 contests. Ozuna remains Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter, but he has been out of the lineup for three of the team's last seven games and could continue to see his playing time slip.

Vientos is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Angels on Friday.

Vientos will take a seat for Friday's series opener while Brett Baty draws the start at first base and bats fifth. Vientos has reached base safely in six of his last seven games, and over that span he has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with two RBI and a 4:7 BB:K.

Torrens went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Thursday's loss to the Nationals.

The Mets have bigger problems right now than the production they're getting from their No. 2 catcher, but Torrens has still gone just 2-for-18 without a run or an RBI over his last eight appearances dating back to April 9. He'll continue providing Francisco Alvarez with occasional breathers, but Torrens isn't making any kind of case for a bigger role.

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.