MLB Player News

Blackmon (groin) will be on the bench Saturday against the Reds, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Blackmon left Friday's game with a mild groin strain. The issue is evidently serious enough to sideline him for at least one contest. Yonathan Daza will start in right field in his absence Saturday.

Stanton (quad) is not in Saturday's lineup against the Orioles, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Left quad tightness kept Stanton out of Friday's contest and it appears the designated hitter is not quite ready to return. The Yankees figure to exercise caution in timing Stanton's return, given his essential role in the team's offensive success.

Belt will sit Saturday against the Pirates, Mark W. Sanchez of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.

Belt sits for the second time in three days. His absence Thursday was due to left side tightness, but he returned to reach base twice Friday. Saturday's day off may simply be a routine one, as the Giants are going with a righty-heavy lineup against southpaw Tyler Anderson. Wilmer Flores will get the nod at first base.

Alvarez has sore legs and will not start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The designated hitter will still play Saturday before receiving a day off Sunday. Alvarez has hit well all season, but especially of late, having recorded at least two hits in six of his last nine games. Michael Brantley will be the designated hitter Sunday.

Brantley is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley will get a day to rest after being in the lineup for six consecutive days. Aledmys Diaz will bat second and take over in left field as the Astros take on Dane Dunning.

Choi was activated from the injured list Saturday, but he is not in the starting lineup, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi will be activated from the injured list for the first time this season, though he'll have to wait for his first start. That is likely to come Sunday with right-hander Marcus Stroman projected to be on the mound for the Mets. Yandy Diaz is starting at first base and batting third for the Rays on Saturday.

Choi (knee) is feeling better and is close to returning, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi has been sidelined for the entire season after undergoing a knee scope in late March. He's continued to deal with soreness while rehabbing, but he has apparently made enough progress that his return is now imminent.

Blackmon has a mild groin strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports

Blackmon was lifted for a pinch runner in the fourth inning of Friday's win over the Reds, but it is unclear how he sustained the injury. It's positive that the strain is considered only mild, though it could still cost Blackmon playing time going forward.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

He produced the Angels' first run in the top of the sixth inning as he swatted a Nick Pivetta offering over the Green Monster. Ohtani has slowed down somewhat at the plate, going 11-for-48 (.229) through 12 games in May, but he's still launched three of his 11 homers on the year during that stretch.

Pederson went 3-for-4 in Friday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.

All three knocks were singles, but it was still Pederson's fourth straight multi-hit performance. The hot streak has pushed the outfielder's slash line to .268/.354/.341 through 24 games, but he has only one homer, eight runs and nine RBI.