MLB Player News

Ohtani (blister) is starting at designated hitter and batting second Tuesday against the Rangers.

He exited Monday's start with a minor blister but reportedly was already petitioning to be in the lineup the next day, and he will get his wish. The two-way legend has totaled seven home runs, 17 runs, 18 RBI and three steals while batting .300 over 85 plate appearances.

McCutchen remains on the bench Tuesday against St. Louis, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

McCutchen doesn't appear to be dealing with any injury, so it's possible he's slipping into the short side of a platoon in left field with Brad Miller, who's starting there again Tuesday. It's hard to argue McCutchen deserves everyday at-bats at the moment, as he's hitting just .154/.300/.231 on the year. The breakdown of playing time going forward may not become clear for a few more games.

Buxton (kneecap) is back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Cleveland, batting third and playing center field.

Buxton missed Monday's game while dealing with knee soreness, the result of patellar tendinitis. He's evidently been dealing with the issue on and off throughout the season, though you wouldn't know it by looking at his .382/.424/.818 slash line. He may require the occasional off day when the issue flares up, but a trip to the injured list doesn't appear to be imminent.

Ruf went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, two walks and a run scored in Monday's 12-0 blowout win over the Rockies.

Ruf contributed an RBI single as part of the Giants' first-inning rally. He got aboard with a walk in the second and scored on a three-run double by Mauricio Dubon. Through 36 plate appearances, Ruf has three home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base. The outfielder is slashing .207/.333/.552 and will typically hit in the middle of the order versus southpaws.

Colon agreed to a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Colon will join the Blue Jays after the organization purchased his contract from the independent American Association's Kansas City Monarchs, with whom the infielder spent two months. The 31-year-old will likely report to Triple-A Buffalo when the minor-league season begins next week.

Winker went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Monday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers.

Winker was quiet most of the game but came through when it mattered most. He led off the 10th inning by driving a sinker up and away in the zone to the opposite field, giving the Reds a 5-3 lead. It was his second long ball in as many days and his fourth in the last five games. The 27-year-old has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, slashing .382/.432/.691 with five home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 17 games to begin the year. He should continue to see everyday reps despite the Reds' crowded outfield group.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored in Monday's 5-2 win over Seattle.

Alvarez delivered Jose Altuve with a first-inning double and came around to score from second base on a Yuli Gurriel single. As he chugged around third, Alvarez showed no hint of the knee soreness that plagued him last season, and he looked natural sliding into home. He hasn't missed a beat after sitting out for a stretch due to the league's health and safety protocols. Alvarez has gone 7-for-19 with two doubles, a triple and five RBI in six games since his return.

Lewis went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk during Monday's loss to the Astros.

Lewis connected on his first long ball of the season with a 433-foot shot against Jose Urquidy in the third inning. The 25-year-old is now 3-for-19 across five games since making his season debut on April 20 due to knee issues.

Ohtani was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers as a precaution after a blister began to form on his pitching hand, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The club believes they removed Ohtani from the contest before the hot spot became an issue, and the 26-year-old stated after the game that he wants to be right back in the starting lineup as a batter Tuesday, per Bollinger. However, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Angels hold Ohtani out of the second matchup of the series as a precaution. He'll be considered day-to-day.

Ohtani (1-0) earned the win Monday after holding the Rangers to four runs on three hits and a pair of walks while striking out nine across five innings. At the plate, Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a walk and three runs scored.

Making his first start on the road this season, Ohtani got off to a shaky first inning that was highlighted by a three-run home run by Nate Lowe, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by David Dahl. Ohtani has struggled with command this season, including first-pitch strike percentage, registering under 50 percent while tallying 13 walks in 13.2 innings. The two-way player helped his own cause in the second inning by hitting a two-run double and eventually scoring a game-tying run. From there, Ohtani regained his confidence on the mound, blanking the Rangers the rest of the way. His success continued at the plate as well, including a bunt and a run scored in the sixth. It was only the second time in Ohtani's MLB career that he both pitched and hit during a game. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old made history by becoming the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to start a game on the mound while also leading MLB in home runs. Ohtani will look to continue his success at home Monday against the Rays.