MLB Player News

Buxton (knee) went 1-for-4 during a rehab game Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul and will play again Saturday after a scheduled off day Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

If Buxton can stay healthy -- his last rehab stint was shut down after two games due to a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his right knee -- it's not clear if he'll be able to get enough at-bats to show he can be activated for the beginning of the playoffs with the minor-league season ending this weekend. Even if he does return in the postseason, the Twins seem unlikely to risk him in center field again, which would limit him to DH.

Rooker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-2 win over the Tigers.

Rooker has turned the power all the way up late in the season, homering six times over his last nine games. His blast Friday was his 29th of the campaign. The outfielder has added a .241/.325/.487 slash line with 65 RBI, 59 runs scored, three stolen bases and 18 doubles over 129 contests.

Alvarez said Friday that he has been limited to DH duties because of a right elbow issue, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez felt something in his throwing elbow while swinging a bat 10 days ago, which explains why he last played the outfield Sept. 13. His limitations have pushed Michael Brantley (soreness) and Chas McCormick to left field and often relegated Yainer Diaz to the bench. It's unclear when Alvarez might be able to cycle back into the mix in left, but at least his bat can remain active in the meantime. He hit a first-inning RBI double in the Astros' loss to the Royals on Friday.

Pederson is out of the lineup Friday versus the Dodgers.

Austin Slater will serve as the Giants' designated hitter and bat leadoff with left-handers Caleb Ferguson and Ryan Yarbrough both lined up to pitch for Los Angeles. Pederson has gone 8-for-43 (.186) this year against southpaws.

Cabrera (leg) is in the lineup as Detroit's designated hitter Friday versus the Athletics.

Cabrera made an early exit from Thursday's win over Oakland after fouling a ball off his leg, but the injury won't cost him any playing time. Cabrera has logged hits in six of his last seven games, going 8-for-26 with three RBI in that span.

Pederson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Pederson has warmed up a bit, going 5-for-18 (.278) with two homers over his last five games. The rest of the Giants didn't follow -- his blast was one of only three hits for them in Thursday's loss. The designated hitter has a .245/.353/.434 slash line with 15 long balls, 51 RBI and 57 runs scored across 113 contests this season.

Morel is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Rockies.

Morel had started each of the last 10 games and homered four times during that span, but he'll take a seat for this one as the Cubs open up a weekend series against Colorado. Jared Young is in the designated hitter spot.

Martinez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two additional RBI in Thursday's 7-2 victory versus the Giants.

Martinez gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead with his fourth-inning solo shot and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the eighth. The veteran has been on fire since being activated from the injured list Sept. 8, slashing .386/.442/.750 with five homers, 17 RBI and eight runs over 12 games. Martinez's long ball Thursday gave him his first 30-homer campaign since he went deep 36 times for Boston in 2019.

Cabrera (leg) is expected to be in Friday's lineup against the Athletics, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Cabrera exited Thursday's game in Oakland after fouling a ball off his leg, but a fracture was quickly ruled out. Manager A.J. Hinch did say it's possible Cabrera will be scratched from the lineup if he's too sore.

Cabrera exited Thursday's game against the Athletics after fouling a ball off his lower leg, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Cabrera was replaced in the sixth inning, but the Tigers later clarified that there is no sign of a fracture. He's expected to be evaluated further after the game, and more details should emerge at that point.