MLB Player News

Choi (groin) is feeling much better and has a chance to return from the injured list when first eligible Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Choi hit the injured list for the second time this season when he strained his left groin in early June. The issue doesn't appear to be a particularly serious one, however, so his return is on the horizon.

Ramirez will be on the bench Tuesday in St. Louis.

Cleveland's default starting nine will be down a member in both games of the two-game series, which takes place in a National League park. Eddie Rosario, Bradley Zimmer and Josh Naylor will start from left to right across the outfield Tuesday.

Belt (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt landed on the 10-day injured list with the oblique injury May 26. Considering that oblique injuries often require lengthy absences, his return wound up being on the quicker side. He'll bat fourth and play first base in his return.

Martinez (wrist) will bat cleanup and serve as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Astros, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

A left wrist issue kept Martinez out of the lineup for three straight games, but the Red Sox didn't expect the injury to warrant a trip to the injured list. That's indeed the case, as he's back in action Tuesday and will look to build on a bounce-back season that has seen him hit .321/.389/.569 through 54 games.

Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Brantley (hamstring) will be activated from the injured list and start in Tuesday's series opener against the Red Sox, SportsTalk 790 reports.

Reports last week indicated that Brantley was on track to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list early in Houston's road trip, and it appears that the outfielder will rejoin the lineup Tuesday at Fenway Park. Though Baker has yet to release the starting nine, he did note that Brantley will be batting slightly lower than usual in his return. With that said, the 34-year-old will almost surely work his way back toward the top of the Astros' order as he gets back into the swing of things.

Ohtani went 0-for-1 with three walks, a steal and a run in an 8-3 victory over Kansas City on Monday.

Ohtani has taken three free passes in back-to-back contests, and he's swiped a bag in both of those games as well. Though he's hit only one home run while going 5-for-29 over his past 10 contests, Ohtani has collected three thefts over that period and still owns a strong .255/.339/.585 batting line for the season.

Soler went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Angels. He was also hit by a pitch.

Soler has gone just 2-for-12 since returning from a groin injury. The 29-year-old has struggled to provide much power this year -- he's hit five homers while posting a .320 slugging percentage in 54 games. He's added 25 RBI, 19 runs scored and 11 doubles across 207 plate appearances.

Pederson (back) remains on the bench Monday against the Padres.

Pederson exited Saturday's game against the Giants and didn't take part in Sunday's contest. He's reportedly feeling better but will sit for at least one more game. Ian Happ slides to left field in his absence, with Jake Marisnick starting in center.

Carpenter entered Sunday's loss to the Reds in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter, lacing a two-run double and scoring a run in one plate appearance.

The veteran is slowly but surely starting to string some success together at the plate, as he's now reached safely in four consecutive games. Carpenter's gradual surge actually dates further back, as he's slashing .304/.385/.522 with five doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs across the 26 plate appearances he's logged in the last 11 contests.

Buxton (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old recently resumed running at 100 percent with no issues, clearing the way for him to begin the final stage of his rehab program. Buxton has been on the shelf with a strained right hip for the past month, but he could be reinstated from the injured list for the upcoming weekend series against the Astros, which starts Friday, if all goes well during the rehab assignment.