MLB Player News

Alvarez (hand) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday, but he'll be on the bench for the first game of the Astros' doubleheader with the Yankees.

Manager Dusty Baker will roll with Chas McCormick as the team's designated hitter and Aledmys Diaz as the team's left fielder in Game 1, but Alvarez is fully expected to rejoin the lineup for the nightcap at one of those two positions, per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. The doubleheader marks the start of a stretch of 19 games in 18 days for the Astros, so it wouldn't be surprising if Alvarez rests one at least one more occasion in the next two and a half weeks, even if his right hand doesn't present any issues.

The Astros reinstated Alvarez (hand) from the 10-day injured list ahead of the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports.

Houston optioned outfielder Jose Siri to Triple-A Sugar Land to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Alvarez, who ended up spending the minimum amount of time on the IL due to right hand inflammation. Since Houston is opening its second-half schedule with 19 games in 18 days, Alvarez will be a candidate to rest at least once or twice during that stretch, but he'll otherwise be a fixture in the everyday lineup if his hand provides him no further complications. Before hitting the shelf and having to miss the All-Star Game as a result of the injury, Alvarez hit .306 with 26 home runs, 60 RBI and 57 runs in 75 games.

Stanton is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros.

Stanton will get a breather for the early game after he played in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Los Angeles, launching a two-run homer and winning the game's MVP award in the American League's 3-2 victory. Joey Gallo will get the start in right field and bat ninth in Thursday's matinee.

Miller is out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Miami.

Though the Marlins are bringing right-hander Pablo Lopez to the hill for the make-up game in Miami, the lefty-hitting Miller will cede his role as the Rangers' designated hitter to the righty-hitting Elier Hernandez. It's not clear if manager Chris Woodward is abandoning the platoon between the two players, but Miller hasn't made a compelling case of late to deserve the larger share of playing time. Dating back to June 15, Miller is hitting .158/.200/.175 over a stretch of 20 games.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Brantley is in the "same spot" with his recovery from right shoulder discomfort since initially landing on the injured list June 28, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "We just hope for the better. That was the shoulder he got operated on years ago. He's still a little sore," Baker said of Brantley.

Baker indicated that Brantley appeared to take a step forward after he was cleared to hit last Thursday, but the 35-year-old had to be shut back down while he continued to experience discomfort. With that in mind, Brantley doesn't look like he'll be ready to come off the IL following the All-Star break, and a clearer timeline for his return likely won't be available until he resumes baseball activities.

Astros general manager James Click said he expects Alvarez (hand) to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Thursday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Adam Wexler of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Click noted that Alvarez will hit on the field at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, and if his inflamed right hand responds well to the activity, the slugger could also take part in some defensive drills. Alvarez missed the Astros' final seven games before the All-Star break due to the injury and was forced to withdraw from the Midsummer Classic.

Ohtani said that he won't pitch for the American League in Tuesday's All-Star Game, as he's instead "prioritizing" the regular season and returning to the mound for the Angels' first game of the second half Friday in Atlanta, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Though Ohtani's decision not to put his two-way skills on full display Tuesday isn't an ideal development for Major League Baseball, it's a beneficial one for fantasy managers, who may not have gotten a pitching start from the 28-year-old had he chosen to take the hill for the All-Star Game. Ohtani will still serve as the AL's designated hitter and leadoff man for the exhibition in Los Angeles.

Miller went 0-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.

Miller returned from a one-game absence due to a neck injury. The 32-year-old outfielder is typically in the lineup against right-handers, but it's been a while since Miller strung together anything resembling a hot stretch. The veteran doesn't have a hit streak longer than three games in 2022, and the last one came May 10 through 12 -- he's batting .188 since. And now with the emergence of Leody Taveras in center field, a chain reaction has Miller and fellow lefty Kole Calhoun sharing left field.

Lewis (concussion) appeared in his 10th rehab game Sunday at Triple-A Tacoma and went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI.

Between stops at Tacoma and High-A Everett for his rehab assignment that began July 3, Lewis has gone 6-for-23 with five home runs and 6:6 BB:K. Lewis served as Tacoma's designated hitter in his most recent two starts, but he manned left field for five innings Friday and could end up seeing most of his time at the corner-outfield spot opposite Jesse Winker if he returns from the 7-day injured list coming out of the All-Star break. The Mariners have primarily leaned on the duo of Sam Haggerty and Dylan Moore in right field since Taylor Trammell (hamstring) joined Lewis on the IL.

Belt went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in a 9-5 victory against the Brewers on Sunday.

Belt began on the bench Sunday with lefty Aaron Ashby on the mound and entered in the second inning once Ashby had departed. The 34-year-old delivered an RBI-single in the second and tacked on two-run homer in the sixth off bulk pitcher Jason Alexander. Belt has been scorching of late -- batting 10-for-20 with two doubles and two homers over his last six games -- and concludes the first half with a .243/.355/.426 line, eight home runs, 22 runs and 19 RBI in 52 games.