MLB Player News

Belt went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox.

He got the Jays on the board with a third-inning solo shot off Nick Pivetta over the Green Monster in left-center field. Belt has three multi-hit performances in his last four games, rapping out two doubles and two homers among his six hits, and since the All-Star break he's slashing .263/.368/.544 in 68 plate appearances with four of his 10 long balls on the season. He still sees little action against left-handed pitching, although he did collect an RBI single Saturday off Brennan Bernardino, but Belt is finally beginning to give Toronto a consistent DH option against righties -- the job he was signed to do in the offseason.

Martinez is not expected to be in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Martinez started Saturday's game and is set to do the same Sunday, but he missed time recently with a hamstring injury, and the Dodgers appear content to ease him back into action -- particularly with Monday's contest being played in the afternoon. Once Monday rolls around, the team will formally announce whether or not Martinez will be included in the starting nine.

Martinez (hamstring) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Martinez made an appearance as a pinch hitter Friday and is now ready to return to DH duties after battling renewed left hamstring tightness throughout the week. It's a positive that he was able to avoid the injured list, but Martinez could always get additional maintenance down the stretch as the Dodgers prepare for the postseason. The 35-year-old is in the midst of a resurgent campaign with a .260/.311/.562 line and 25 homers in 86 games.

Jimenez (heel) is batting cleanup as the designated hitter Saturday against the Guardians.

Jimenez sat out the past two games due to heel soreness but will rejoin the lineup for Saturday's contest. The 26-year-old has a .314/.364/.431 slash line with three doubles, a homer, seven RBI and four runs in 16 games since the All-Star break.

Turner (heel) is batting third as the designated hitter Saturday against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Turner hasn't seen the field since Monday while nursing a bruised left heel, but he'll return to the starting nine for Saturday's contest. The veteran slugger has a .909 OPS in 15 games since the All-Star break and will attempt to pick up where he left off prior to the injury.

Martinez (hamstring) drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk in Friday's 10-5 win against the Padres.

Before Friday, Martinez hadn't appeared in a game since exiting early in Sunday's contest against the Reds due to left hamstring tightness. The veteran slugger was able to avoid a trip to the injured list and collected a walk with the bases full in the eighth inning Friday to notch an RBI, though he was immediately pulled for a pinch runner. Per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Martinez is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against San Diego.

Stanton went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Friday in a loss to Houston.

Stanton plated the final run in a losing effort for New York with his 435-foot blast to left field in the eighth inning. The slugger has gone deep in each of his last three games, going 4-for-11 and driving in seven runs over that stretch. Stanton's power surge extends back to July 8 -- he's belted 10 homers in 21 games since that date, though he's hitting a modest .218 during that stretch.

Meneses went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's 6-3 victory over the Reds.

Meneses touched up starter Graham Ashcraft for a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, his ninth homer of the season. He endured a power outage over the final two weeks of July as Meneses continues to be rather streaky. The late bloomer has five hits -- including two homers -- over his last four games, and fantasy managers will have to hope this is the start of a hot stretch.

Ramirez went 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 8-0 win over the Tigers.

Ramirez is quietly batting .290 this season to go along with nine homers, four steals, 38 RBI and 37 runs scored. The Rays' roster is crowded and he often finds himself out of the starting lineup against right-handed pitchers, but he's not in a strict platoon role. Curtis Mead's promotion creates even more competition for playing time, but Ramirez should continue to start roughly four days per week.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's win over the Yankees.

Alvarez is up to 20 home runs on the season and has hit safely in each of his eight games since returning from a 39-game stint on the injured list. His 1.017 OPS is nearly identical to last season and despite the missed time, he's still on pace for a third consecutive season with 30 or more homers. A healthy Alvarez remains one of the best hitters in the game and a stalwart in the heart of the Astros lineup.