MLB Player News

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Boston's 5-4 victory over Toronto on Thursday.

Martinez got off to a relatively slow start with his new club, but that can be considered a thing of the past as his fifth-inning blast off Marco Estrada brought his slash line up to .306/.351/.565 with five home runs and 18 RBI. He looks primed for another prolific power-hitting campaign coming off a 2017 season split between Detroit and Arizona in which he clubbed 45 home runs and slugged a ridiculous .690 in only 119 games.

Cespedes went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI on Thursday against the Cardinals.

Cespedes has gotten off to a slow start but continues to drive in runs while batting predominantly second or third in the Mets' lineup. Thursday was no different, as he came to the plate with a runner on base in three of his at-bats and he took advantage. He has an unsightly 42 percent strikeout rate that is holding his average back, but that figures to correct itself as the season wears on.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in a win over the Mets on Wednesday.

Ozuna helped set the tone for what would end up being a prolific night for the Cardinals offense, coming through with a clutch two-run, two-out single in the third inning. The marquee offseason acquisition has been mired in a slump recently, as after a scorching hot start to April, he's only 2-for-27 over his last seven games. However, he's been a run-producing machine throughout the month, with Wednesday's pair of RBI pushing his total to 13.

Winker is out of the lineup Thursday against the Braves, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Interim manager Jim Riggleman is stacking his starting nine with mostly right-handed bats to counter Atlanta lefty Sean Newcomb, resulting in lineup mainstays Winker and Scooter Gennett receiving the day off. Winker's move to the bench will open up a spot in the lineup for Billy Hamilton, who had sat out Wednesday as part of the Reds' four-man outfield rotation.

Cabrera is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates.

Cabrera will get off for the second game of Wednesday's twin bill after going 4-for-6 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored in Game 1. Niko Goodrum will start at first base and hit cleanup in his stead.

Vogelbach was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma following Wednesday's win over the White Sox, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Vogelbach parlayed a spectacular spring training into a big-league roster spot and even got regular playing time for a while due to various injuries. However, with Ryon Healy (ankle) nearing a return from the disabled list, the big slugger was set to be blocked from regular time. Vogelbach will mash away for the Rainiers after producing a .212 batting average and two home runs in 52 at-bats with Seattle.

Buxton (migraines, toe) will not return to extended spring training games Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The speedy outfielder managed to hit off a tee Wednesday, but he's apparently still not feeling good enough to return to game action. Bollinger added that the team medical staff had to drill into his left big toe to relieve pressure in it after he suffered the injury, which seems like it could delay his return to action further.

Carpenter is out of the lineup against the Mets on Wednesday, Brian Stull of St. Louis Baseball Weekly reports.

Carpenter will receive a standard day off following five straight starts as Jedd Gyorko gets the nod at third base for Wednesday's affair. Over 21 games in 2018, Carpenter is hitting .167/.326/.306 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

Ohtani's blister has calloused over, so he doesn't expect it to be an issue for the rest of the season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The blister was blamed for Ohtani's poor third start, when he exited after allowing three runs on four hits and a pair of walks in just two innings. It wasn't thought to be an issue for his fourth start Tuesday in Houston, though he still struggled, allowing four runs on six hits and an ugly five walks in 5.1 innings. Those two starts may have knocked a bit of the shine off the exciting young two-way player, as his ERA now stands at an unremarkable 4.43, but there's hope that with the blister issue fully behind him he can get back the dominating stuff he showed in his first two starts.

Belt went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Tuesday's win over the visiting Nationals.

The homers keep coming for the first baseman. That's now five home runs in the last six games, with eight RBI in that span. Belt has brought his slash line up to .292/.418/.691, with 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in 19 games. He'll look to keep the hot bat going during the homestand, with the Dodgers and Padres heading to town next.