MLB Player News
-
Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Day off Wednesday
McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Milwaukee.
McCutchen had started each of the previous eight contests but will get a breather in Wednesday's series finale. Bryan Reynolds will receive a day off from playing the outfield and will replace McCutchen at designated hitter.
-
Randal Grichuk RF | KC
Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Stepping out of lineup
Grichuk is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Grichuk will get a breather for the day game after he had started in each of the last seven games -- five in right field, two at designated hitter -- while going 6-for-25 with two extra-base knocks, one walk, four RBI and five runs. With Corbin Carroll (wrist) on the injured list, Grichuk and the left-handed-hitting Jake McCarthy could end up settling into a platoon in right field, though McCarthy (.246 OPS in 51 plate appearances in the majors this season) may need to raise his performance before he emerges as the preferred option against right-handed pitching.
-
Eloy Jimenez DH | TB
Rays' Eloy Jimenez: Returns from IL
Triple-A Durham reinstated Jimenez (Achilles) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Jimenez didn't play Tuesday in Durham's 15-6 win over Memphis, but he's healthy again after missing the past five weeks with right Achilles tendinitis. Prior to being activated, Jimenez played in eight rehab games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and went 2-for-21 with six walks.
-
Brent Rooker DH | ATH
Athletics' Brent Rooker: Clubs 16th homer
Rooker went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the Tigers.
The 30-year-old slugger jumped on the first pitch he saw from Tarik Skubal, turning on a 96-mph fastball and ripping it deep down the left-field line to get the A's on the board. Rooker has been locked in for most of June, slashing .317/.417/.512 over 22 games with three of his 16 homers and 12 of his 43 RBI on the season.
-
Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Belts 27th homer
Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Rockies.
Ohtani delivered a two-run home run off Ryan Rolison in the sixth inning to give the Dodgers an 8-3 lead. Since the start of June, Ohtani is 23-for-86 (.267) with five homers, three doubles and two triples over 22 games. He's one of three players in baseball with an OPS above 1.000.
-
Kyle Manzardo DH | CLE
Guardians' Kyle Manzardo: Pokes homer in win
Manzardo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to Toronto.
Manzardo entered as a pinch hitter for David Fry in the seventh and finished the game at designated hitter. He eventually launched his 12th home run of the season -- and first in 13 games -- in the ninth inning. Manzardo had a nice start to the season as the team's primary DH -- he homered eight times and had a .557 slugging percentage through the first 26 contests -- but he has since lost playing time to Fry as his power stroke has waned. Since April 30, Manzardo has just four home runs and is slugging .378 over 41 games.
-
Pavin Smith DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Starts at first base
Smith started at first base and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.
Smith got the nod at first when Josh Naylor (shoulder) was scratched. The latter suffered a shoulder injury on an aggressive swing during Monday's game and was eventually removed from that contest. The fact he was nearly ready to play Tuesday suggests Naylor could start Wednesday. In that event, Smith would likely move back to designated hitter with Arizona set to face Chicago right-hander Sean Burke.
-
Yandy Diaz DH | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Reaches base four times
Diaz went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a walk in Tuesday's win over the Royals.
Diaz collected hits in the first, third and fifth innings and came around to score in the latter. He's been on an unreal tear lately, collecting multiple hits in six straight contests and 11 times during his active 14-game hitting streak. During that span, he's gone 29-for-60 (.483), raising his season slash line to .289/.338/.470 with 29 extra-base hits and 36 runs scored.
-
Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Resumes swinging bat
Alvarez (hand) hit off a tee Sunday and is scheduled to do so again Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It's the first time he's swung a bat since an MRI on his right hand in late May revealed a previously undiagnosed fracture. Alvarez has been shelved since early May and will need to go through a hitting progression and likely a rehab assignment before returning to the Astros' active roster.
-
Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Mets' Jesse Winker: Nearing rehab assignment
Winker (oblique) is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment by this weekend, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The Mets shifted Winker from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL earlier Tuesday, but he's nearly ready to play in games and will initially serve as a designated hitter during his rehab assignment. He is eligible for activation July 4 and should be ready to go at that time, barring any setbacks. Once reinstated, Winker could settle back into a strong-side platoon role for the Mets.