MLB Player News

Carpenter is not in the lineup Saturday versus the Giants.

Nelson Cruz will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth as the Padres take on the Giants and left-hander Sean Manaea at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City. Carpenter has logged only nine plate appearances against lefties this season.

Alvarez (neck) is back in the starting lineup Saturday against the Phillies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and bat third versus the Phillies and right-hander Zack Wheeler after missing nearly a full week of action because of neck tightness. He returns Saturday to a .900 OPS with six home runs and a whopping 27 RBI through 20 games.

Rooker went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Reds.

Rooker has been a much-needed bright spot for this struggling Athletics team. The former Twin is now tied for fifth in the league with his eight long balls and sports an impressive 1.213 OPS through 62 at-bats. The outfielder is already about to pass his career-high of nine homers in a season, which he hit in 2021 for Minnesota.

Martinez was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Dodgers on Friday, retroactive to April 25, with lower back tightness, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Martinez was unable to return to the lineup again Friday, and the Dodgers instead will place the veteran designated hitter on the injured list to get him right. Will Smith was activated off the injured list and will be the designated hitter against the Cardinals with Martinez out. It seems likely that the 35-year-old should require a minimal stint on the injured list at this point.

Martinez (back) will try to swing in the batting cage Friday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

If that workout doesn't go well, Martinez might be headed to the injured list. He hasn't appeared in a game for the Dodgers since last Sunday due to discomfort on the left side of his lower back, and he said the flight back from Pittsburgh on Thursday didn't help matters. Will Smith is expected to come off the concussion IL and serve as the designated hitter in Friday night's series opener against the visiting Cardinals.

Harper (elbow) hit on the field with his Phillies teammates Friday in Houston, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper will do that again Sunday ahead of what will be a crucial follow-up appointment with Dr. Neal ElAttrache early next week in Los Angeles. ElAttrache performed Tommy John surgery on Harper last November, and the current belief is that the 30-year-old slugger might be cleared to return as the Phillies' designated hitter as early as next weekend if all parties involved feel it's a safe idea. The initial expectation at the time of his reconstructive elbow procedure was that Harper would be sidelined until the All-Star break.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Alvarez (neck) is doing better and currently participating in pregame activities, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

When asked if Alvarez was available off the bench for Friday's game against the Phillies, Baker wouldn't say, claiming that the opposition "might be listening." Alvarez is missing his fourth consecutive contest due to tightness in his neck, but it's obviously a positive sign that the slugger is participating in warmups. Assuming no setbacks, there's a good chance he's back in the lineup for Houston by the end of the weekend.

Manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Friday's game against the Phillies that Brantley (shoulder) doesn't have an at-bat or innings threshold to reach on his rehab assignment before rejoining the Astros, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

"We kind of leave that up to Mike a little bit," Baker said when asked about when the veteran outfielder will be ready. Brantley has yet to make his 2023 debut while recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery he underwent in August, and he's played three rehab games thus far for Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming no setbacks, it seems likely that Brantley is up with the Astros in the early part of May.

Winker isn't starting Friday against the Angels.

Winker holds a .699 OPS against lefties since 2021, so he will begin Friday's contest in the dugout against Tyler Anderson. Rowdy Tellez will instead serve as Milwaukee's designated hitter, allowing Luke Voit to start at first base and bat sixth.

Alvarez (neck) is out of the lineup again Friday versus the Phillies, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez hasn't appeared in a game since last Sunday due to a lingering neck injury, but the fact that the Astros have yet to place him on the IL suggests that there have been recent signs of progress. Rylan Bannon will serve as the DH and bat eighth Friday in the series opener of this World Series rematch with Philadelphia. Corey Julks is in left field and hitting sixth.