MLB Player News

Lewis (concussion) has ramped up baseball activities in recent days but remains without a firm return timetable, the Associated Press reports.

Lewis' recovery from a concussion has been rather drawn out, as the slugging outfielder has been on the injured list since June 1. The fact Lewis remains without a timetable for his return underscores the unpredictable nature of head injuries, but he is reportedly showing gradual improvement.

Winker signed a contract with the Mariners on Thursday, agreeing to a two-year, $14.5 million pact, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Winker had been playing without an official contract for 2022 after he failed to come to terms with the Mariners in his second year of arbitration eligibility, but he's now on the books for the next two seasons before hitting free agency following the 2023 campaign. Though he's disappointed in his first season in Seattle with a .634 OPS across 264 plate appearances, the 28-year-old Winker is still viewed as a core player in the organization.

Morel went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 19-5 loss to the Padres.

Morel took reliever Craig Stammen deep in the sixth inning for a solo shot -- his fourth of the season -- and plated two more runs on a one-out base hit in the bottom of the second. The two-hit, three-RBI performance ended a brief skid at the dish for Morel, who had recorded just one base knock in 15 at-bats over the prior four contests. The rookie is in the lineup for Thursday's series finale, manning center field and batting leadoff.

Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.

Even after slugging three long balls in his previous four games, Martinez is sitting on a somewhat suppressed total of eight home runs on the season, but fantasy managers have little reason to otherwise complain about the 34-year-old. Martinez, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts have formed arguably the most fearsome trio of hitters in the majors this season, with all taking batting averages north of .330 and on-base averages above .370 into Thursday's series finale. Martinez will serve as Boston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter Thursday, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Rangers.

Alvarez did his damage early, driving in a pair with a bases-loaded double. Though he hasn't homered in his last seven appearances -- a notable drought given that he has gone yard 17 times in 57 games to begin the campaign -- Alvarez has nine RBI and two runs scored in that span. Overall, Alvarez has maintained a 192 wRC+ and .434 wOBA across 241 plate appearances on the season.

Belt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Wednesday against the Royals.

Belt made his first start since May 21 after being sidelined by a knee injury. He went yard in his second plate appearance to lead off the fourth inning and record his fifth homer of the season. Belt has a .341 wOBA and 122 wRC+ across 125 plate appearances on the campaign.

Choi isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi started in the last three games and went 4-for-12 with a double, two RBI, a run, a walk and four strikeouts. However, Isaac Paredes will start at first base and bat fifth with left-hander Nestor Cortes on the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday.

Ruf is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ruf had started each of the Giants' last seven games at first base and went 6-for-25 with two home runs and two doubles over that stretch, but he'll retreat to the bench Wednesday with Brandon Belt making his return to the lineup after being activated from the 10-day injured list earlier this week. Belt is serving as a designated hitter Wednesday but should eventually settle back in as a full-time first baseman, which will likely result in the righty-hitting Ruf seeing most of his starts against left-handed pitching moving forward.

Blackmon went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Guardians on Tuesday.

The Rockies' leadoff man went yard for the 10th time this season -- and third in his past eight games -- to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh. The blast came off Guardians ace Shane Bieber and led to him being pulled from the game one batter later. The 35-year-old left-handed hitter is slashing .251/.307/.439 and should continue to benefit from hitting at or near the top of the order in Coors Field.

Martinez went 1-for-4 with solo home run and a walk during Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Athletics.

The veteran slugger had five homers through his first 50 appearances of the season, but he's found his power stroke of late with three long balls across his four games. Martinez ranks third in the league with a .345 batting average to go along with 22 doubles, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored.