MLB Player News

Harper went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in a 9-4 win over the Padres during the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The 30-year-old was used only as a pinch hitter in the matinee with lefty Blake Snell on the mound for San Diego, but Harper was back at DH for the nightcap and took Ryan Weathers deep in the fourth inning. The blast snapped a career-worst homer drought for Harper that had lasted 166 plate appearances, and he now has four long balls and six steals in 59 games on the season to go along with his still solid .298/.395/.422 slash line.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 13-12 extra-inning win over the Astros.

Ohtani continues to be hampered on the mound by a blister and cracked fingernail on his right middle finger, but it's not slowing him down at the plate. He's gone 7-for-17 over his last four contests with two homers, four RBI and a triple in that span. The two-way superstar is slashing .302/.386/.661 with 33 homers, 72 RBI, 65 runs scored and 11 stolen bases over 91 contests as a hitter. Manager Phil Nevin also indicated Ohtani should be able to make his next scheduled pitching start, which is tentatively expected to be against the Pirates as long as his troublesome finger cooperates.

Stanton went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, an additional RBI and a walk in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Rockies.

Stanton set the tone early, knocking in a run with a first-inning groundout before adding his homer in the second. He's homered four times over his last four contests, bringing his total to 11 on the year. The outfielder has added a .213/.287/.471 slash line with 29 RBI and 20 runs scored, but his recent hitting -- 13-for-48 (.271) since June 24 -- is much more in line with what's expected of a player of his caliber.

Alvarez (oblique/illness) worked out in Houston on Saturday and is feeling better, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It is not clear, however, when he will be ready to begin a rehab assignment. Alvarez had been slated to start playing in rehab games with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday but has been delayed due to illness. It shouldn't be long before he's game ready, with a return to the Astros' lineup coming shortly thereafter.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that he expects Ohtani (finger) to make his next start on the mound, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani's right middle finger has been giving him problems across his last three starts, but it doesn't seem like it will cost him any playing time on the mound. While Ohtani's pitching performance has dipped recently to the tune of a 5.51 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over his last three outings, he is still slashing .349/.442/.860 with six homers, nine RBI and 11 runs scored since June 27.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Astros, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani has been dealing with a blister and a cracked nail, which forced him to exit his start Friday against the Astros early. It's possible his bothersome finger winds up delaying his next start in the mound, but it won't affect his ability to hit, at least not to the point that the Angels feel compelled to rest him.

Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Saturday against Cincinnati.

Winker will remain in the Brewers' dugout as the Reds send lefty Andrew Abbott to the mound to begin the game. Christian Yelich will assume DH duties Saturday while Blake Perkins starts in left field and bats sixth.

Ford entered Friday's loss to the Tigers as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and hit a solo home run in his only plate appearance.

Ford's 363-foot shot to right field brought the Mariners within a run, but Seattle ultimately failed to score again. The slugger has now left the yard in three of his last seven games overall, a span in which he's posted a .429 average and 1.526 OPS with seven extra-base hits and six RBI across 23 plate appearances.

Turner started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 8-3 win over the Cubs.

Turner's seventh-inning, two-run blast extended a hit streak to 10 games, during which he's 16-for-38 (.421) with three home runs and 14 RBI. His start at second base allowed manager Alex Cora to maximize the team's offensive potential. For one night, it worked. Turner, Jarren Duran (LF), Adam Duvall (CF) and Masataka Yoshida (DH) combined to go 6-for-18 with a double, two homers and two additional runs scored. Cora told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com that Turner will play second base about once per week.

Harper will be on the bench for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Padres.

Harper could play first base at some point soon, but for now, he won't be playing anywhere, with the Phillies seemingly not wanting to tax his surgically-repaired elbow by asking him to play twice in one day. Kyle Schwarber will move to the designated hitter spot, with Brandon Marsh sliding to left field and Johan Rojas set for his big-league debut in center.