MLB Player News

Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Friday's 9-6 loss to the Mariners.

Alvarez went deep in the eighth inning to cut the deficit to three runs. The slugger is in midseason form already with five homers over 14 contests. He's batting .341 with a 1.266 OPS, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, three doubles and a stolen base through 62 plate appearances. Alvarez has often displayed excellent plate discipline, but he's been better than usual in that area so far with a 14:7 BB:K as well. Last year was a lost season due to injuries, but Alvarez has 30-homer and 100-RBI potential if he can stay relatively healthy.

Pederson isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Pederson lost his three-game hitting streak with an 0-for-2 effort Wednesday, and he'll now receive a day off to begin Texas' three-game set in Los Angeles. Andrew McCutchen will fill in as the designated hitter and bat fifth.

The Athletics placed Rooker on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right oblique strain.

Rooker suffered the injury on a swing during Thursday's game against the Yankees. He will be eligible for activation April 20, though oblique strains often require longer than minimum stints on the IL. Carlos Cortes is getting a start at designated hitter for the Athletics on Friday against the Mets in the team's first game without Rooker.

The Rays have hired Ford for a front-office role, Kristie Ackert of the Associated Press reports.

Ford began last season at Triple-A St. Paul in the Twins organization before finishing it in Japan. The 33-year-old Princeton grad slashed .205/.298/.402 with 37 home runs over parts of six major-league seasons.

Bell went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Tigers.

Bell was the only Minnesota player to collect multiple hits Thursday, and he logged the team's only extra-base knock with a solo shot off Jack Flaherty in the fourth inning. The 33-year-old Bell went 7-for-14 in the four-game series against the Tigers, driving in three runs. He's now slashing .317/.431/.634 with three home runs, 10 RBI, 11 runs scored and an 8:14 BB:K across 51 plate appearances on the season.

Rooker was pulled from Thursday's game against the Yankees in the first inning due to right flank discomfort, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Rooker tweaked his side on a swing and was removed from the contest mid at-bat. He will undergo imaging Friday, Gallegos adds, before more is known about Rooker's condition, but a trip to the injured list could be in the cards. If Rooker is forced to miss time, it could result in additional playing time for Carlos Cortes and/or Andy Ibanez.

Rooker departed Thursday's game versus the Yankees in the first inning with an undisclosed injury, the "Talkin' Baseball" podcast by Jomboy Media reports.

Rooker took a healthy cut at a Ryan Weathers changeup and fouled it off but looked to tweak something in the process. He was visited by the Athletics trainer and quickly retreated to the clubhouse. The A's should provide more clarity on Rooker's injury soon. Lawrence Butler replaced Rooker in Thursday's contest.

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Tigers.

This was the second multi-hit effort of the season for Buxton, who has struggled to get much going at the plate. He's also drawn a walk in three straight games. The outfielder is batting .214 with a .625 OPS through 11 contests, and he's added one RBI, eight runs, three doubles and one triple, through he's yet to hit a home run or attempt a stolen base. Buxton has been atop the lineup for the last three games, including one against a right-handed pitcher, but he'll need to build off this performance to avoid dropping down the order.

Ohtani didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Blue Jays, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk across six innings while striking out two. He went 0-for-3 with a walk at the plate.

Ohtani has delivered back-to-back quality starts to open his season on the mound. He's yet to give up an earned run across 12 innings, allowing just five hits and four walks while striking out eight in that span. Ohtani's next outing on the mound is tentatively scheduled for next week at home against the Mets. His hitless performance Wednesday ended a modest five-game hit streak, during which he went 9-for-24 with a double and three homers.

Soler was suspended seven games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday for his involvement in a brawl during Tuesday's game with Atlanta, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Soler is appealing the suspension.

Soler charged the mound and traded punches with Atlanta pitcher Reynaldo Lopez after high inside pitch from Lopez in the fifth inning. Earlier in the game, Soler homered in his first plate appearance and was hit by a pitch by Lopez his second time up. The 34-year-old Soler will continue to be available to play for the Angels as the appeals process plays out.