MLB Player News

Ozuna remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Ozuna finds himself on the bench for the third game in a row, all of which have come against right-handed pitching. With Atlanta making more room of late at designated hitter for William Contreras and Eddie Rosario and in left field for Rosario and Robbie Grossman, the righty-hitting Ozuna looks like he might have to settle for a short-side platoon role, at best. Ozuna's declining playing time comes while he's slashed an ugly .184/.192/.329 with a 32.1 percent strikeout rate in 19 games since the All-Star break.

Harper (thumb) took a round of batting practice Wednesday and will do so again later this week before potentially beginning a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Interim manager Rob Thomson said that if Harper's surgically repaired left thumb checks out fine following the two rounds of BP, the reigning National League MVP will likely report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to resume game action. Before landing on the IL on June 26, Harper had been serving exclusively as a designated hitter for Philadelphia since mid-April due to a torn ligament in his right elbow. Despite having ample time off to heal, Harper doesn't look on track to play the outfield again in 2022, as he had his throwing program tabled earlier this month when he experienced some stiffness in the elbow. The playoff-hopeful Phillies would still obviously welcome Harper back in an offense-only role, and though an official timeline for his return hasn't been established, club officials told Lauber that the 29-year-old is expected to be activated on or around Sept. 1 if he remains free of setbacks over the next couple of weeks.

Morel isn't starting Wednesday against the Nationals.

Morel started the last three games but went just 1-for-9 with a solo homer, a walk and six strikeouts. Rafael Ortega is starting in center field and batting sixth.

Ramirez went 1-for-4 Tuesday against the Yankees.

Ramirez was activated from the injured list prior to Tuesday's game after missing just over three weeks with a thumb injury. He hit third and served as the designated hitter, and he is likely to occupy a similar role consistently moving forward. Though Ramirez has only four home runs, he has 20 extra-base hits across 268 plate appearances for the season, good for a career-best .443 slugging percentage.

Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Blackmon delivered nearly all of Colorado's offense Tuesday, first tallying an RBI single in the sixth inning. He drove in two additional runs on a double one frame later. Entering Tuesday's game, Blackmon had hit only .190 with two home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored across 21 games since the All-Star break. In part due to that prolonged slump, Blackmon has only a 94 wRC+ across 459 plate appearances on the season.

Reyes went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's extra-innings win over the Nationals.

Reyes made his Chicago debut a week ago, and he now has hits in six straight games to begin his tenure, with a double, a triple and two home runs. The 27-year-old has been productive at the MLB level before, including last year when he launched 30 home runs for Cleveland, so the Cubs may have found something. Reyes should at least continue seeing regular playing time as the team's DH down the stretch, and he's squarely on the fantasy radar if he's hitting like this.

Miller is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics.

Though he'll be on the bench with southpaw JP Sears on the bump for Oakland, the lefty-hitting Miller may have recaptured a strong-side platoon role at designated hitter. He went 3-for-5 with a walk between the past two contests, while Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith both picked up starts at third base. The hot-hitting Duran appears likely to serve as the Rangers' main option at the hot corner moving forward, while the slumping Smith could shift into more of a utility role.

Pederson (hand) is starting in left field and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 30-year-old exited Sunday's game with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch and was held out of the lineup Monday, but he'll rejoin the starting nine for Tuesday's contest. Pederson is 7-for-18 with three doubles, three RBI and two runs in eight games since returning from a brief stint on the concussion IL in early August.

Choi is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With southpaw Nestor Cortes on the hill for New York, the lefty-hitting Choi will bow out of the starting nine. Isaac Paredes will spell Choi at first base Tuesday.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Ozuna did not start Monday, and he will remain in a reserve role for at least another day. William Contreras -- like he did Monday -- will serve as Atlanta's designated hitter.