MLB Player News

Ohtani is expected to make his regularly scheduled start on the mound Friday against Arizona, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani was dealing with a right biceps injury last week, but the 32-year-old appears to have moved past the issue, easing concerns about his availability for his next turn in the rotation. Manager Dave Roberts feels strongly about Ohtani's chances to go Friday, stating that "as we sit here, I don't see that changing." The right-handed pitcher has posted a slightly inflated 4.38 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 28 strikeouts over 24.2 innings in his last four starts.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and four total RBI in an 8-7 extra-innings win against the Rockies on Monday.

Ohtani kicked off the scoring for Los Angeles with a two-run blast in the third inning. He added a two-run single in the fourth to log his first game with four-plus RBI since May 16. Ohtani tied his season high with three hits, a mark he's reached seven times so far this season. He's not putting up the jaw-dropping numbers at the plate that he did in his first two campaigns with Los Angeles, but Ohtani has still been one of the league's best hitters, posting a .944 OPS (third best in MLB) along with 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 61 runs and six stolen bases through 87 contests.

The Diamondbacks optioned Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Del Castillo slugged a home run in his last start Saturday versus the Brewers, but he has posted a weak .555 OPS over 164 plate appearances on the season. With James McCann (quadriceps) returning from the injured list to resume duties as Arizona's backup catcher, Del Castillo will head back to Reno.

Schwarber walked and struck out three times in four plate appearances before being ejected in the sixth inning of Monday's game against the Royals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

After going down swinging for his third strikeout of the afternoon, Schwarber exchanged words with home-plate umpire Alan Porter and was tossed from the contest. The Phillies were down nine runs following the top of the sixth inning, so interim manager Don Mattingly may have looked to pull the slugger from the contest even if he hadn't been ejected. Schwarber still leads the majors with 30 home runs but has been in a bit of a power drought of late, leaving the yard just once in his last 14 games while striking out in 38.2 percent of his plate appearances.

Ohtani (biceps) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter Sunday against the Padres, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was held out of Saturday's starting nine after exiting Friday's contest due to biceps discomfort, but he's back in action for Sunday's series finale, which happens to be his 32nd birthday. The two-way superstar is off to a slow start at the plate in July, going 1-for-12 with a walk and three strikeouts through three games. It remains to be seen if the biceps issue will affect Ohtani's availability for his next turn through the rotation, which currently lines up for next weekend versus Arizona.

Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Lowe will head to the bench for the second time in the series, this time exiting the lineup against a right-handed starter (Kyle Bradish) after his previous absence Friday came versus a lefty (Trevor Rogers). Spencer Steer will step in for Lowe at first base and will bat fifth.

Eldridge went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and an additional RBI in a 6-4 win over Colorado on Saturday.

Eldridge doubled home a run in the first inning and added a 458-foot solo homer in the third. The long ball was his first in 13 games, a stretch during which he's batted just .188 with three RBI. That's taken some steam out of Eldridge's strong start to the season, but he's still slashing .280/.368/.484 with seven homers and 19 RBI over 46 contests while playing nearly every day.

Yelich went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Yelich had gone 0-for-12 over his previous four games, though he did draw five walks in that span. His lone hit Saturday was a fifth-inning homer off Merrill Kelly that got the Brewers on the board. Yelich is now batting .246 with a .720 OPS, six homers, 28 RBI, 40 runs scored, six stolen bases, 10 doubles and a triple over 54 contests this season.

Del Castillo went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

This was his first homer since May 26 versus the Giants. In the 16 games in between long balls, the catcher batted just .158 (6-for-38) while receding into a backup role. He's hitting .185 with a .555 OPS, five homers, 23 RBI, 12 runs scored, four doubles and no stolen bases over 164 plate appearances this season. Del Castillo's playing time could dwindle even more once James McCann (quadriceps) returns from the injured list, which is expected to happen as soon as Monday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Ohtani (bicep) is feeling "considerably better" and could be back in the lineup Sunday, and Roberts didn't rule Ohtani out of being available off the bench Saturday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Ohtani isn't in the lineup Saturday after reporting some discomfort in his right bicep Friday. However, there hasn't been any indication that the injury is serious, and Roberts' words Saturday further suggest that it's just a minor issue. Andy Pages is getting a turn at DH with Ohtani sidelined Saturday.