MLB Player News

Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 6-3 win over the Dodgers.

Ozuna ended August with seven homers over his last 10 games, and he kept that prodigious power streak going right into September. Across his last 11 games, he's batting .488 (20-for-41) with 12 extra-base hits. Prior to the surge, Ozuna was batting .249 and slugging .477 -- those marks are now at .272 and .543, respectively. He's up to 32 homers, 76 RBI, 71 runs scored and 20 doubles through 118 contests.

Buxton experienced soreness in the patella tendon of his right knee while playing for Triple-A St. Paul on Friday as the DH, and he was removed from the game after two at-bats, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Buxton played the first game of his rehab assignment Wednesday, which was his first game in center field this year. He then had an off day Thursday. This sounds like a setback which could put his return from the injured list in doubt, as the Twins had been hoping he could return and play center field on a semi-regular basis in September. Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with a strained right hamstring and has served exclusively as a designated hitter in the majors this season due to limitations related to his September 2022 right knee surgery.

Miller (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Double-A Frisco.

Miller will likely continue the rehab stint through the weekend before returning to the Rangers' active major-league roster early next week. He's been on the injured list since Aug. 2 because of a left hamstring strain.

McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against St. Louis.

McCutchen will get a breather Friday after going just 1-for-20 across his last six games. Endy Rodriguez will fill in as Pittsburgh's designated hitter, allowing Jason Delay to start behind the plate.

Toronto recalled Horwitz from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Horwitz returns to the majors as a backup at first base and in the corner outfield with rosters expanding from 26 to 28. The 25-year-old went 2-for-8 in a brief stint with the Blue Jays back in June and has posted an impressive .337/.450/.495 slash line with 10 homers and 72 RBI across 107 games this summer at Triple-A.

Belt (back) is serving as the Blue Jays' designated hitter and batting cleanup Friday at Colorado.

Belt missed the final two games of the Jays' previous series against the Nationals due to nagging back trouble, but he's good to go Friday versus the Rockies. The 35-year-old has registered an .834 OPS with 15 home runs through 94 games this season for Toronto, and he's a career .317/.375/.563 hitter at Coors Field.

Soler (hip) isn't in the Marlins' lineup Friday against Washington.

Soler will now miss his third straight start after being pulled from Tuesday's game with right hip tightness. Manager Skip Schumaker said Soler was potentially available off the bench Thursday, so there's a chance he could make a pinch hit appearance Friday. Jake Burger will serve as Miami's DH while Soler sits, allowing Garrett Hampson to start at third base.

The Blue Jays will recall Horwitz from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Eric Treuden of Jays Journal reports.

Horwitz already had a brief three-game stint with the Jays in June and went 2-for-8 with an RBI and a run scored. He's slashed .337/.450/.495 across 484 plate appearances with Triple-A Buffalo and will serve as a bench bat down the stretch as the Jays make a push for the postseason.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Soler (hip) could be available off the bench Thursday at Washington, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler is out of the lineup for a third straight day because of lingering right hip tightness, but he's apparently starting to feel a little better and seems like a good bet to return in full Friday. The 31-year-old has hammered 35 home runs in 125 games this season with Miami.

Soler was scratched from the lineup Thursday at Washington due to lingering right hip tightness, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler had been slated to return as the Marlins' designated hitter after missing two games, but now the 31-year-old slugger is out for a third straight contest. Jake Burger will instead fill the DH role as Josh Bell covers first base and Garrett Hampson enters the lineup at third base.