MLB Player News

Buxton was removed from Saturday's game against the Tigers due to back spasms, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before leaving.

He was replaced by pinch hitter Willi Castro after Buxton experienced the spasms. The 29-year-old has struggled with the bat as of late and has just an .207 average on the season, and he also missed a couple of weeks with a rib contusion he suffered at the start of June. He should be considered day-to-day at this stage.

Morel went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Cardinals.

Morel entered the first game of the weekend series in London hitless in his last 13 at-bats, but he snapped out of the mini slump in a big way. The 24-year-old has been solid all year for the Cubs, as he now has a .971 OPS with 13 home runs and 30 RBI in 35 games. His strong play has made him a lineup fixture after he started the year with Triple-A Iowa.

Vogelbach isn't starting Saturday against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

With lefty Cristopher Sanchez starting for Philly, Vogelbach will sit out the beginning of Saturday's game. Tommy Pham will serve as the designated hitter, allowing Mark Canha to start in left field and bat seventh.

Stanton is starting at designated hitter while hitting fifth Saturday against the Rangers.

Stanton had hit fourth or higher in the lineup in all 28 of his games this season entering Saturday. However, he's maintained just a .096 average and .231 slugging percentage across 52 at-bats since returning from a hamstring strain June 1. Harrison Bader was bumped up to third in the order.

McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases Friday against the Marlins.

McCutchen has been out of the lineup three times in the last six games as he's nursed an elbow injury. He was productive on Friday, however, managing his first stolen base since June 2 and ninth of the campaign. After a very hot start to the season, McCutchen has only a .692 OPS across 47 at-bats in June.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a double in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Rockies.

Ohtani had hit a small rough patch by going 0-for-7 across two games against the Dodgers this week, but he rebounded Friday while coming up a triple shy of the cycle. He's up to 25 homers on the year, 10 of which have come in his last 16 games as he's surged into the major-league lead, two ahead of the Mets' Pete Alonso. Ohtani is slashing .298/.381/.630 with 59 RBI, 50 runs scored, 15 doubles, three triples and 10 stolen bases over 75 contests as a batter in another remarkable campaign.

Jimenez went 3-for-4 with a double in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Red Sox.

Jimenez has hit safely in eight of nine games since returning from a calf injury in mid-June. This was his second multi-hit effort in that span, and he's gone 11-for-38 (.289) with three home runs and three doubles over the productive stretch. For the season, the outfielder has a .264/.314/.471 slash line with nine homers, 30 RBI, 21 runs scored and nine doubles over 44 contests.

The Astros transferred Brantley (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Brantley has been on the shelf all season while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder, so this move to the 60-day IL doesn't affect his return date. There is still no timeline in place for Brantley to make his first appearance since June 2022, but he's reportedly been making steady progress since suffering a setback in May. Bligh Madris was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill Brantley's spot on the 40-man roster.

Ford isn't in the Mariners' lineup Friday against Baltimore, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

It's been tough at the plate lately for Ford, who is 0-for-17 across his last seven games, so he'll sit Friday to regroup. Cal Raleigh will fill in as Seattle's designated hitter, allowing Tom Murphy to start behind the dish and bat eighth.

Rooker will sit Friday versus the Blue Jays.

Rooker will get a breather after he went 0-for-7 with a walk and four strikeouts while starting two games during the team's series with Cleveland. Aledmys Diaz will slot in at designated hitter while Tyler Wade enters the lineup at shortstop and bats eighth in the series opener with Toronto.