MLB Player News

Martinez (hamstring/groin) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers.

Martinez will serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter and bat fifth in his first game since Aug. 6. He's been bothered by lingering left hamstring/groin discomfort since late July but ultimately managed to avoid the injured list.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday that Buxton (hamstring) is getting better but will need to go on a rehab assignment before returning, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with right hamstring tightness. Although his return doesn't seem to be imminent, it's a good sign to hear that he's trending upward. A clearer timeline for Buxton's activation will likely come once he begins his assignment, but a late-August return is certainly possible.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup Tuesday versus the Pirates.

Mark Vientos will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and Danny Mendick will cover third base with left-hander Bailey Falter toeing the slab for Pittsburgh. Vogelbach is hitless with seven strikeouts in only 13 plate appearances this year against southpaws.

Brantley (shoulder) was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start a rehab assignment Tuesday.

The 36-year-old will be in the lineup for the Space Cowboys on Tuesday, marking the start of his second rehab assignment of the season. Brantley was shut down in early May after a nine-game rehab stint due to inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, and he'll likely require at least a handful of games in the minors before the Astros activate him from the injured list for his season debut.

Vogelbach went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Monday's 7-2 win over Pittsburgh.

Vogelbach put the Mets ahead 2-1 in the second inning with a 411-foot home run off Quinn Priester. The 30-year-old Vogelbach is 4-for-10 with a pair of homers over his last four games after going 0-for-14 in his previous four contests. He's now slashing .223/.329/.377 with nine homers, 34 RBI and 26 runs scored across 255 plate appearances this season.

Ford went 1-for-3 with a double and a run in a loss to the Royals on Monday.

Ford entered the night mired in an 0-for-13 slump over his previous five games, and Monday's two-bagger was his first extra-base hit since July 23. The journeyman slugger had been surging at the plate at that point, but he's subsequently experienced a 43-point drop in batting average to .221 thanks in large part to a mammoth 47.1 percent strikeout rate over the following 11 contests.

Blackmon went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in Monday's 6-4 win over Arizona.

Blackmon returned after a two-month absence necessitated by a fracture in his right hand. The veteran didn't show any signs of rust, reaching base three times from the leadoff spot. One of his hits was an infield single leading off the eighth inning that sparked a four-run frame in the come-from-behind victory. Blackmon began the game as the Rockies' designated hitter before moving into right field in the ninth. He'll likely work as the team's DH most games moving forward.

Choi will be placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left rib strain, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Choi did not start either Saturday or Sunday, and it is now evident that his absence was related to injury and not performance. Garrett Cooper gets the start at designated hitter in his place.

Lewis was recalled Monday from Triple-A Reno, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Lewis has mostly struggled this season at the major-league level, but he boasts a .361/.463/.650 batting line with 14 homers and 56 RBI in 47 games for Reno, and he'd been on a tear on the farm over the last few weeks. Jake McCarthy was optioned out in a corresponding roster move as the quickly-fading Diamondbacks try to ride the hot hand.

Colorado activated Blackmon (hand) from the 10-day injured list Monday, Kelsey Wingert-Linch of AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain reports.

Blackmon will serve as the Rockies' designated hitter and leadoff man Monday against the Diamondbacks following a two-month absence to heal a fracture in his right hand. The 37-year-old had slashed .265/.347/.422 with five homers and 26 RBI in 56 games before the injury. Cole Tucker was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday in a corresponding roster move.