MLB Player News

Alvarez (undisclosed) is undergoing tests Thursday and could return to the team for Friday's game against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez was placed on the injured list Wednesday after being held out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols. The fact that the Astros remain hopeful that he'll return Friday seemingly indicates that he hasn't tested positive for COVID-19 himself but was merely exposed to someone else who did.

Brantley isn't starting Thursday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brantley's six-game hitting streak came to an end Wednesday when he went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in a win over Seattle. Aledmys Diaz will take over in left field and bat fifth.

Torrens isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.

Torrens went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs in Wednesday's loss, but he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last five games. Tom Murphy will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.

Lewis isn't starting Thursday's game against the Astros.

Lewis will get a breather after he went 2-for-10 with a pair of solo home runs in the last three games. Taylor Trammell will start in center field and bat eighth.

Harper will sit Thursday against the Cardinals after getting struck in the face by a pitch in Wednesday's contest.

Harper was able to walk off the field under his own power and received good news from a CT scan after the game. He'll sit for at least one game, but it doesn't appear he'll require a trip to the injured list. Roman Quinn starts in right field in his absence.

Ozuna went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 10-0 rout of the Cubs.

The veteran slugger got the ball rolling with a first-inning blast off Kyle Hendricks. Ozuna hasn't has much success at the plate so far, hitting .187 with only two homers and 12 RBI through 24 games, but he does have a modest three-game hitting streak going.

Lewis went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Astros.

Lewis extended the Mariners' lead in the fifth with a solo home run to left to make it a 5-2 ballgame. It was the 25-year-old's second long ball in three games, though Lewis has gotten off to a slow start overall, slashing just .154/.214/.423 with a 2:8 BB:K over his first seven games since coming off the injured list.

Torrens went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Astros.

Torrens was involved in the Mariners' first four runs of the game. He led off the third by taking the first pitch he saw deep to center field for a solo home run -- the second long ball of his young career. Torrens came back up to the plate the following inning with two men on after back-to-back walks by Zack Greinke and roped a double down the left-field line, scoring both runners and giving the Mariners their first lead of the evening. These were Torrens' first hits since April 15 and his first RBI since April 2. He's struggled mightily swinging that bat, slashing .190/.242/.293 with just four RBI, five runs scored and a 3:15 BB:K.

Solak batted second and went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Angels.

Solak's recent hot streak has prompted manager Chris Woodward to move him up to the two-hole, regardless of the opposing starter's handedness. "I just want him up there as many times as possible," the manager told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. "His at-bats against right and left are just as good." Solak, who belted two home runs Tuesday, is batting .393 (22-for-56) with six homers, 12 RBI and 13 runs scored over the last 15 games.

Turner went 1-for-4 with a home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Wednesday's win over the Reds.

Turner launched his sixth homer of the season in the third inning , a solo shot off Sonny Gray. The veteran third baseman has hit safely in four of his last five games, though it's worth noting he hasn't recorded more than one knock since April 16 -- a span of 11 games during which he's hit just .194.