MLB Player News

Morel went 3-for-5 with a two-run double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 10-3 victory over the Orioles.

Morel extended his hit streak to six games Friday, including back-to-back three-hit performances, and has totaled three home runs, a double, a triple and 11 RBI during that stretch. The soon-to-be 24-year-old burst onto the scene after being called up May 9, recording nine home runs and 15 RBI over his first 15 games, but he went ice cold after that, notching just one hit over his next 10 appearances (28 at-bats). Morel appears to be back on track and is on pace to shatter his rookie totals from last year (16 home runs and 47 RBI across 113 games).

Winker (neck) will be activated from the 10-day injured list over the weekend, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Winker landed on the injured list at the end of May and has been on a rehab assignment since June 7. Despite having a rough season with the Brewers so far, Winker has been raking in the minors, slashing .350/.500/.800 over 26 plate appearances. Once activated he will presumably return as the Brewers' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching.

The Blue Jays recalled Horwitz from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

Horwitz holds an .826 OPS in Triple-A this season and will join the Blue Jays to provide depth at first base, although he has also been used occasionally in left field. Nathan Lukes was optioned to Buffalo in a corresponding move.

Horwitz will be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Friday's game versus the Rangers, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It's not clear yet what the Blue Jays' corresponding move will be. Horwitz is sporting a .300/.421/.405 batting line with two home runs and three stolen bases with Buffalo this season. The 25-year-old is capable of playing first base and left field and can also handle second base in a pinch. He'll be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.

Vientos is absent from the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Cardinals.

Mark Canha is playing first base and Daniel Vogelbach is at designated hitter for the series opener against St. Louis. Vientos has just a .469 OPS in 16 games with the big club this season.

Vogelbach is starting at designated hitter and batting seventh on Friday against the Cardinals.

Vogelbach hasn't played for a week, as the Mets wanted to give him time to work on his swing. The 30-year-old will carry a .203/.343/.297 line into play Friday and will surely need to start producing at the plate if he wants to keep his roster spot.

Ohtani (6-2) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rangers. He struck out three and went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks at the plate.

Ohtani tied his season low in strikeouts, and Thursday's tilt marked his first outing with fewer than five punchouts since May 3rd. However, he managed to pick up his first win in his last six appearances to notch his eighth quality start, and he also helped himself offensively with his 22nd long ball. Though Ohtani has taken a step back from his incredible 2022 season on the mound, where he tallied a 2.33 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 219 strikeouts across 166 innings, he's remained a strong source of strikeouts (11.52 K/9) while totaling a 3.29 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 82 innings in 2023. Ohtani is in line for another tough matchup next time he takes the mound, which is expected to come during a two-game homestand versus the Dodgers.

Morel went 3-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Thursday's win over the Pirates.

Morel continues to roll along, as he now has hits in five straight games and a robust 1.016 OPS for the season. The 23-year-old's absurd home run pace has predictably slowed down, however. He has two long balls in his last 15 games after going deep nine times in his first 12 contests of the year.

Encarnacion-Strand started in right field for Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Encarnacion-Strand looks to be next in line among Cincinnati's prospects to be called up, though he's blocked at first base by Spencer Steer and potentially Joey Votto (shoulder). The Reds have comparatively struggled to get production from their corner outfield positions, as Stuart Fairchild has regularly started in left field of late while a combination of Will Benson and T.J. Hopkins have started in right. It's unclear if Encarnacion-Strand will prove trustworthy enough with the glove to stick in the outfield, but it's potentially one more path for him to reach the majors.

Martinez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the White Sox.

Martinez has gone 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts and one walk over his last three games, though he still holds a shiny .894 OPS on the year. Jason Heyward is serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter Thursday and batting cleanup.