MLB Player News

Garver went 2-for-6 with a grand slam, racking up two runs and six RBI in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Orioles.

Garver had his big moment in the fifth inning, when Jacob Webb took the mound in an attempt to keep the game close for the Orioles. The designated hitter's big fly pumped his team's lead up to seven runs and helped ensure that victory would not be relinquished. Sunday's home run also marked the first of his career in the postseason, during which he has slashed a modest .211/.250/.368 with two runs and five RBI across five games between the Twins and Rangers.

Garver will bat third as Texas' designated hitter in Game 2 of the ALDS at Baltimore on Sunday.

Garver didn't register a plate appearance in the Rangers' first three playoff games, but he'll join the starting nine Sunday for Game 2 against the Orioles. The 32-year-old finished the season in an 0-for-11 slump but posted a .276/.400/.494 slash line with six homers over 26 games in September and had an .870 OPS for the season.

Garver isn't in the Rangers' lineup for Game 1 of the ALDS against Baltimore.

Robbie Grossman has now started all three of Texas' playoff games as the designated hitter. Garver slashed .270/.370/.500 across 343 plate appearances in the regular season, but he went 0-for-11 over the final three games and has yet to register a plate appearance in the postseason.

Buxton (knee) isn't on the Twins' roster for the ALDS, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Buxton has been slowly working his way back from a knee injury that has held him out for over two months and advanced to taking live batting practice Friday, but he officially won't be able to make it back before the start of the AL Divisional Series. Buxton remains without a set return timeline, and it's unclear if he will be able to make an appearance in the postseason.

Kjerstad is on the Orioles' roster for their ALDS matchup against the Rangers, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Kjerstad slashed .233/.281/.467 with two homers and three RBI after being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk in mid-September -- enough to secure himself a spot on the initial playoff roster. The 24-year-old rookie will likely serve as bench depth as Baltimore may choose to send out their experienced veterans more often for the postseason.

Buxton (knee) is with the Twins in Houston but "sounded far from certain of the possibility" of being added to their ALDS roster, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Buxton continues to rehab his nagging right knee issue, and while he believes he'd be able to play, he admits it would be in a limited capacity. "It wouldn't probably be at the speed I want it to be, and that's one of those where I don't want to hurt the team," Buxton said. "It's kind of one of those where I don't want to put the team in a bad spot with me coming back at 50, 60, 70 percent." Complicating a potential return for Buxton is that he doesn't appear ready to play the outfield and Royce Lewis (hamstring) also remains limited to designated hitter duty. Buxton hasn't played for the Twins in more than two months.

Almonte elected free agency Wednesday.

Almonte, 34, has a career .671 OPS over parts of 11 big-league seasons and saw eight games worth of action with the Mets this season. The outfielder will be on the lookout for another contract this winter.

Belt is starting at designated hitter and batting second Wednesday in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The Blue Jays are rolling out the same lineup that they featured in Game 1 as they try to stave off elimination. That includes Belt in the two spot, which is where he hit in his final three starts of the regular season. For what it's worth, Belt is 0-for-8 with a 3:1 K:BB in nine career plate appearances versus Twins starter Sonny Gray.

Garver is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Rays.

The Rangers are sticking with the exact same lineup that produced a Game 1 victory. That means Garver is again sitting out in favor of Robbie Grossman at designated hitter even as Grossman went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday (though he did draw a walk).

Pham revealed Tuesday that he's been limited to DH duties because of turf toe, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Pham served as the Diamondbacks' everyday designated hitter over the final week of the regular season and will remain in that role for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday against the Brewers. He said he might receive an injection before the game to help him get over the hump, but it's unclear whether he'll be able to play the outfield at all in Arizona's best-of-three series versus Milwaukee.