MLB Player News

Ohtani is being scratched from Monday's lineup against the Orioles due to right oblique tightness.

It's unclear as to when this injury flared up, but Ohtani was spotted taking batting practice on the field earlier in the day. This comes only a few hours after Ohtani's agent, Naz Balelo, held a press conference providing an update on Ohtani's UCL injury and declaring his client is determined to remain a two-way player after making a full recovery. He'll be considered day-to-day until more information comes to light.

Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, stated that surgery of some sort is "inevitable" for his client, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Balelo noted that the tear in Ohtani's elbow ligament is different from last time, and the part that was previously repaired remains intact, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. Ohtani's medical team is still gathering information on the best strategy for surgery, but in the meantime, it appears he'll continue to hit for the Angels down the stretch of the 2023 campaign. Balelo finished his press conference by stating "Shohei is going to be in somebody's lineup next year, DH-ing when the bell rings," per Shaikin. Balelo also made it known that Ohtani remains dedicated to remaining a two-way player after recovering from the UCL injury.

Winker (back) hurt his right quad during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville and has been moved back to the 10-day injured list from his rehab assignment, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Winker hit .333 with a .480 OBP and zero home runs in 39 at-bats during his rehab assignment. It's unclear how serious this latest quad injury is, but Winker, who had been rehabbing back spasms, should be considered out indefinitely.

Ohtani went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to Oakland.

Ohtani has gone 10 games without a homer, but he's reached base at a .479 clip over that stretch thanks largely to a 27.1 percent walk rate. The slugger has taken advantage of all the walks by swiping three bags during the homerless span, pushing his season total to 20 thefts. He and Ronald Acuna are the only big-leaguers so far this season with at least 30 homers and 20 steals. Ohtani is now one of eight players in MLB history to put up multiple 40-20 campaigns.

Belt is being kept away from the Blue Jays on Monday because of a stomach virus, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Belt has missed time with a back issue recently, but it would appear the stomach virus is the main reason for his absence from the lineup for a second straight day. Consider him day-to-day. Vladimir Guerrero is at designated hitter and Spencer Horwitz is playing first base Monday.

Belt (back) is not in the lineup for Monday's game in Oakland.

Belt has now missed three straight starts and five of the last six games with a nagging back issue. The Blue Jays haven't seemed concerned that it could lead to a stint on the injured list, but the odds that it will increase as his absence lingers. Vladimir Guerrero is at designated hitter and Spencer Horwitz is playing first base Monday.

Alvarez (knee) is starting at designated hitter and batting third Monday versus the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez banged his knee while playing the outfield in Sunday's loss to the Yankees, but he finished out that game and won't have to miss Monday's key division matchup against the Rangers. The slugger enters play Monday having reached base a whopping 22 times over his last eight games.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

He'll take a seat with the Cubbies sending left-hander Justin Steele to the hill. Mitch Haniger will be in left field.

Ford went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a loss to the Mets on Sunday.

Ford went back-to-back with Dominic Canzone in leaving the yard during the fourth inning, allowing the Mariners to close a four-run deficit to one. Ford has reached safely in six straight games, an encouraging stretch during which he's posted a .333 average (5-for-15) with two homers, three RBI, three walks, a hit-by-pitch and four runs.

Morel is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Giants, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Morel has now been on the bench for two straight after starting each of the previous three contests. Cody Bellinger is being used at designated hitter Monday.