MLB Player News

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Friday against the Reds.

Ozuna went yard in the fifth inning to record his third home run of the season and first since April 18 -- a span of 10 games and eight starts. He continues to hit poorly to begin the year, as he's batting just .118 with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate in his last 10 contests. Ozuna remains Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter, but he has been out of the lineup for three of the team's last seven games and could continue to see his playing time slip.

Rooker went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 8-5 loss to the Guardians.

Rooker got Thursday off after going 0-for-13 with five strikeouts and a walk in three games following his return from an oblique strain. The outfielder benefited from the reset, as he homered in his first at-bat Friday and added an RBI single in the seventh inning. Rooker is still batting just .136 with a .509 OPS, three homers, 11 RBI, six runs scored and two stolen bases over 68 plate appearances this season. That said, the slugger is due to see his rate stats improve, and he should be able to maintain a steady spot in the lineup as the Athletics' primary designated hitter.

Vientos is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Angels on Friday.

Vientos will take a seat for Friday's series opener while Brett Baty draws the start at first base and bats fifth. Vientos has reached base safely in six of his last seven games, and over that span he has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with two RBI and a 4:7 BB:K.

Stanton (calf) has not been cleared to resume running, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Stanton hopes to resume hitting this weekend, but there's no word on when he will be cleared to run, and a timeline for his return to the active roster won't come into focus until that happens. The designated hitter suffered a low-grade right calf strain one week ago.

Torrens went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Thursday's loss to the Nationals.

The Mets have bigger problems right now than the production they're getting from their No. 2 catcher, but Torrens has still gone just 2-for-18 without a run or an RBI over his last eight appearances dating back to April 9. He'll continue providing Francisco Alvarez with occasional breathers, but Torrens isn't making any kind of case for a bigger role.

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a double in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Buxton produced three of Minnesota's six hits in the victory, with his biggest knock being a sixth-inning solo homer. That long ball was the third over his past four games and eighth overall this season. Buxton is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .409 (9-for-22) with three homers, four runs, four RBI and a stolen base. He's increased his season OPS from .705 to .810 over the hot stretch.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and three total runs scored in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

Alvarez extended Houston's lead to 6-0 in the second inning of Thursday's nightcap with a 424-foot blast off Brandon Young, his 12th homer of the year, tying Aaron Judge and Munetaka Murakami for the league lead. It was another huge effort from Alvarez after he went 0-for-4 in the opening game of the doubleheader, ending a 13-game hitting streak. The 28-year-old slugger is now slashing an eye-popping .356/.462/.737 through his first 143 plate appearances this season with 27 RBI and 25 runs scored.

Vientos will start at first base and bat cleanup in Thursday's game against the Nationals.

Vientos appeared to fade into a part-time role a couple of weeks ago, but he's re-emerged as a more stable member of the lineup since Jorge Polanco (wrist) was placed on the injured list April 18. Vientos will claim his ninth start in 11 games Thursday, despite producing a lackluster .231/.333/.346 slash line to go with one home run and two RBI over the prior 10 contests.

Rooker is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Despite the Royals starting lefty Noah Cameron, Rooker will be on the bench after going 0-for-13 at the plate in three games since returning from the injured list due to a strained oblique. Rooker is now slashing just .111/.206/.222 with two homers, eight RBI, five runs scored, two stolen bases and a 7:22 BB:K across 63 plate appearances this season.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Cardinals.

Ozuna is slumping again after a brief hot streak, having gone just 3-for-30 with a 1:11 BB:K over his last nine games. As a result, he has now been absent from the lineup three times in the last six contests. Ryan O'Hearn will get a start at designated hitter Thursday.