MLB Player News

Stanton went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double and two RBI in Thursday's loss to Washington.

Stanton recorded hits in each of his first two trips to the plate but was left stranded both times as the Yankees grabbed an early lead. He then launched a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the eighth and drove home Oswald Peraza with a single in the ninth to make it a one-run game, though New York would still come up short. It marked the 33-year-old outfielder's first four-hit performance of the season while it was his first game with an RBI since Aug. 13. He's now batting .222 in August with five home runs, 12 RBI and eight runs scored.

McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday against the Cubs.

McCutchen will grab some rest after going 3-for-4 with three doubles and a walk in Wednesday's series finale versus the Cardinals. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter Thursday as Josh Palacios, Ji Hwan Bae and Connor Joe start across the outfield.

Morel is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Pirates.

It's his second straight absence from the Cubs' starting lineup, though Morel did single as a pinch hitter Wednesday in Detroit. The 24-year-old is slashing just .107/.206/.232 over his last 63 plate appearances dating back to Aug. 3.

Brantley (shoulder) will remain on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land at least through this weekend, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros had indicated that a return this weekend was a possibility, but manager Dusty Baker said that while Brantley is "champing at the bit," the veteran outfielder is "not physically there yet." Brantley played back-to-back games with Sugar Land on Tuesday and Wednesday and will get some rest Thursday before returning to action Friday. A timetable for his activation is not clear. The 36-year-old hasn't played in a major-league game in over a year because of ongoing shoulder issues.

Alvarez (finger) will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup Thursday versus the Red Sox in his return to the lineup, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez missed the previous two contests after accidentally slamming his left index finger in a door, but he's ready to roll Thursday as the Astros try to win the series against Boston. The slugger will bring a 13-game homerless streak into Thursday's action.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday that Ohtani has a torn UCL in his right elbow and won't pitch again in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

No decision has been made yet on whether Ohtani will require the second Tommy John surgery of his career or a different type of procedure to repair his UCL, but he will be shut down as a pitcher for the time being. The two-way star exited Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Reds due to arm fatigue, but he was still able to serve as the Angels' designated hitter in the nightcap and will continue to do so going forward, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Ohtani will finish his season on the mound with a 3.17 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through 130.2 innings across 22 starts.

Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Mets.

Ozuna was a triply shy of the cycle, but he hasn't hit a three-bagger since 2019, so he wasn't all that close to the feat. He was again the driving force of Atlanta's offense, logging his fourth multi-hit effort in his last five games. He has four homers and seven RBI in that span. For the season, the 32-year-old is slashing .262/.334/.519 with 28 homers, 67 RBI, 62 runs scored and 18 doubles through 110 contests.

Ohtani (arm) is starting as the Angels' designated hitter and batting second for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Reds, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani was removed from the first game of Wednesday's twin bill -- both on the mound and as a batter -- due to arm fatigue, but he is seemingly healthy enough to remain in Los Angeles' lineup. Arm fatigue has plagued Ohtani often as of late, and it's possible that he ends up taking another extended break from pitching in order to recover.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.

Harper tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning with a clutch three-run homer off Camilo Doval. Harper's now homered in three straight contests despite being limited to DH duties while recovering from back stiffness. He's gone 12-for-26 (.462) with five long balls in his last seven games, boosting his slash line to .299/.392/.468 with 12 homers, 59 runs scored, 47 RBI and seven steals across 406 plate appearances this season.

Brantley (shoulder) will serve as the DH on Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land after starting in left field Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

These will be Brantley's first back-to-back games since he joined Sugar Land on a rehab assignment last Tuesday. Astros manager Dusty Baker said the team will "make a determination" on the 36-year-old's readiness Thursday, and he could perhaps make his 2023 debut for Houston this weekend in Detroit.