MLB Player News

The Cardinals optioned Baker to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Baker has played sparingly as the short side of a platoon at designated hitter, slashing .235/.366/.324 over 41 plate appearances. The Cardinals have not announced a corresponding move, but it will likely involve activating Ivan Herrera (knee) from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the Nationals.

Bryant (back) will undergo an ablation procedure Thursday to help aid in his recovery from a lumbar degenerative disc disease, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

An updated return timeline will likely come out after Bryant goes under the knife, though he will presumably need several weeks to recover before starting up his rehab. The 33-year-old has been on the injured list since mid-April and was slashing just .154/.195/.205 when healthy.

Marte is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Arizona.

Marte is set to be the Mets' primary designated hitter while Jesse Winker (oblique) is sidelined, but he'll get a breather in Wednesday's matinee. Brandon Nimmo will be the club's DH, while Jeff McNeil patrols left field.

Bell is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Guardians.

Bell returned to action in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader after missing the previous four contests with a groin issue. While Bell seems to be healthy now, the Nationals are going with James Wood at designated hitter and Alex Call in left field for Wednesday's series finale.

Steer started in left field and went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta.

Steer made his first outfield start of the season. He opened the year with a shoulder injury that limited him to DH before improving enough to play first base the last three weeks. He joins the rotation of bodies filling for the injured Austin Hays (hamstring) in left field.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Marlins.

It's the fourth time in the last 10 games that Ohtani has gone yard, a stretch in which the 30-year-old superstar is batting .385 (15-for-39) with a blistering 11 extra-base hits, including five doubles and two triples. On the season, he boasts a .296/.399/.607 slash line with 10 homers, 10 steals, 15 RBI and 38 runs in 34 contests.

Schwarber went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBI, a stolen base and a walk in Tuesday's victory against Tampa Bay.

Schwarber drilled a solo shot to begin the second inning for his 12th home run of the year to tie the MLB lead. He walked and stole second base in the third inning before knocking an RBI single and scoring another run in the eighth. It was his second multi-hit performance over his last 16 games and his first three-hit outing since April 8. Schwarber's OPS jumped to .999 with 16 extra-base hits, three stolen bases and 28 RBI through 156 plate appearances.

Burleson went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Pirates.

After getting off to a very quiet start to the campaign, Burleson is starting to get back on track at the plate recently. The slugging first baseman is now riding a five-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .263 (5-for-19) with two home runs, one double and five RBI. The lefty-hitting Burleson should remain on the strong side of a platoon with Luken Baker going forward.

Bell (groin) will serve as Washington's designated hitter and bat fourth in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians.

Bell has been out since Saturday due to a groin injury and sat out the first game of Tuesday's twin bill, but he'll return to the starting nine for the nightcap. The 32-year-old has struggled to break out of his slump to start the season, going just 3-for-19 with a homer over his last five games.

Bell (groin) is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Bell hasn't seen the field since Friday due to the groin issue, and his absence will extend into Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill. It's unclear if the veteran slugger will be available for the nightcap. James Wood is receiving another look at designated hitter while Alex Call starts in left field with Bell out.