MLB Player News

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Rays.

Alvarez opened the game's scoring with his fourth-inning blast off Michael Wacha. He later doubled and scored to allow the Astros to retake the lead in the sixth. The 6-foot-5 slugger is slashing .313/.360/.550 with 12 extra-base knocks in 89 plate appearances.

Harper (wrist/face) will start in right field and bat third Sunday against the Mets.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since being struck in the face and wrist by a fastball Wednesday, but he'll return to his usual spot in right field for Sunday's series finale. Harper has a .321/.448/.615 slash line with six home runs, five doubles, 10 RBI and 17 runs through 23 games this season.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa said Mercedes wasn't scratched from the lineup Sunday against Cleveland for any reason related to injury, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

The skipper noted that Mercedes reported late to the ballpark Sunday, but La Russa said the 28-year-old's late arrival wasn't the reason why he was held out of the lineup. Instead, La Russa suggested it was a close call whether to use Mercedes or Jake Lamb as the team's designated hitter Sunday, and the manager ultimately chose to go with Lamb. After Sunday, the White Sox will play a two-game series in Cincinnati on Tuesday and Wednesday, and with no designated hitter available in the National League park, Mercedes is expected to sit out both contests. With that in mind, fantasy managers are probably best off leaving Mercedes on the bench for Chicago's upcoming five-game week.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Vogelbach had picked up starts at first base in each of the past four games, going 1-for-14. The lefty-hitting slugger will head to the bench with southpaw Julio Urias on the bump for the Dodgers, but Vogelbach may have captured a large-side of platoon role for the time being. Keston Hiura will start at first base Sunday, but he was on the bench for the past four games after getting off to a 12-for-75 (.160 average) start to the season.

Blackmon is not in the lineup Sunday at Arizona, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Blackmon started the past six games and will take a seat Sunday after going 7-for-21 with two doubles, four walks, four RBI and two runs over the past week. Yonathan Daza will start in right field and bat sixth for Colorado.

Mercedes was scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against Cleveland for an unspecified reason.

The White Sox initially announced Mercedes as their starting designated hitter and No. 5 hitter for the series finale, but he'll instead get the day off while Jake Lamb replaces him in the lineup. Expect the team to provide more information regarding why Mercedes was removed from the lineup later Sunday, but it's possible he may just be getting a maintenance day. Mercedes had started in 14 of the White Sox's last 15 games.

Canha went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk in Saturday's loss against the Orioles.

Canha launched his fourth homer of the season Saturday in the seventh inning off reliever Cole Sulser, and this also means he has hit safely in four of the team's last five games. The veteran outfielder is hitting only .263 with a .754 OPS in that span, though.

Pederson (wrist) is participating in live batting practice Sunday at the Cubs' alternate training site, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old was with the Cubs earlier in the road trip while rehabbing the injury, but he has returned to the alternate site to take part in live batting practice. Pederson appears to be in the final stages of his rehab program from left wrist tendinitis and could return from the injured list sometime this week.

Winker (back) will start in left field and bat leadoff Sunday against the Cubs, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

After exiting in the seventh inning during Friday's series opener with a sore back, Winker sat out Saturday's 3-2 loss. The day off appears to have alleviated the pain in Winker's back, as he'll reclaim his normal role atop the lineup and in the corner outfield. With a 1.093 OPS through 87 plate appearances, Winker has been the Reds' most prolific hitter over the first month of the season.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run, an RBI and a stolen base in a 10-5 win over Seattle on Saturday.

Ohtani didn't manage to collect a hit in the contest, but he still contributed amidst a big day by the Angels offense. The two-way star scored the game's first run on a Mike Trout homer in the first inning, then knocked in a run with a groundout in the second. Ohtani has been among the game's elite offensive performers through the early stages of the campaign, racking up eight homers, 20 RBI, 19 runs and four stolen bases while slashing .271/.314/.625.