MLB Player News

Harper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Braves.

Harper started out poorly, as he went down swinging in each of his first two at-bats. However, he came around in the sixth, beginning the inning by belting an opposite-field home run to put the Phillies up 6-5. The 28-year-old has managed to reach safely in every game so far, and he's slashing .276/.447/.517 with two home runs, four RBI and seven runs scored.

Martinez went 4-for-6 with three home runs, four RBI, four runs and two strikeouts in Sunday's 14-9 win over the Orioles.

Martinez missed Saturday's game against Baltimore due to cold symptoms, but he was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list for Sunday's series finale. He stayed hot at the plate in the win and recorded his third career three-homer game. The 33-year-old has tied a franchise record by recording eight consecutive games with extra-base hits to begin the season. Martinez now leads the majors with five home runs, seven doubles and 16 RBI this year.

Belt went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and pair of walks in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

The 32-year-old knocked in the final run against German Marquez, a solo shot in the sixth inning. Belt is off to a sluggish start following his career year in 2020 where he slashed .309/.425/.591.

Dickerson went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

The left-handed hitter smoked a solo shot off German Marquez in the first inning, launching the ball a whopping 413 feet. It was the second of the year for the 30-year-old, who found some power last season and has carried it over into 2021.

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Mariners.

Buxton contributed a two-RBI double in the third inning, then took Mariners starter Chris Flexen deep for a two-run homer in the fifth. The 27-year-old Buxton has hit well to start 2021, with five homers, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base across 30 plate appearances. He has a .481/.548/1.185 slash line while often hitting in the heart of the order.

The Angels plan to have Ohtani complete a bullpen session Monday, though he may have to pitch with a bandage over his blistered finger, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani will continue to play regularly as a designated hitter while he contends with the blister, but the Angels want to see how he checks out during a throwing session before determining when he'll make his next start on the mound. The Angels have already excluded Ohtani from their pitching schedule for their three-game series in Kansas City that begins Monday, but if the lefty checks out fine during the bullpen session, he could return to the hill at some point during the Halos' series with the Twins next weekend.

Manager David Bell said Winker (calf) will be "fully available" off the bench for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Bell nearly included Winker in the lineup Sunday, but the outfielder will get another day off for precautionary purposes while he works back from calf cramps. Expect Winker to re-enter the starting nine for Monday's game in San Francisco.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Sunday that Rooker (neck) should begin receiving at-bats in simulated games at the Twins' alternate site in Saint Paul during the upcoming week, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Rooker appears to be tracking toward a minimum-length stay on the 10-day injured list, but he's not expected to have a regular role waiting for him in Minnesota once he's reinstated. With third baseman Josh Donaldson (hamstring) seemingly in line to come off the IL on Monday, Luis Arraez will likely shift to left field to handle an everyday gig. Rooker and Jake Cave had previously been vying for at-bats in left.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday that Cabrera (biceps) is without a clear timeline for a return from the 10-day injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Cabrera was moved to the IL earlier Sunday with a left biceps strain, an injury that previously bothered the veteran during the 2016 and 2018 seasons. While Cabrera isn't believed to be dealing with a ruptured tendon -- which sidelined him for a large portion of 2018 -- the Tigers will still send him for more tests Sunday in order to ascertain the extent of his injury. Renato Nunez was called up from the Tigers' alternate site in a corresponding move, and he's expected to serve as the primary replacement for Cabrera at first base or designated hitter.

The Red Sox reinstated Martinez (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale in Baltimore.

Martinez was placed on the COVID-19 IL in accordance with health and safety protocols after he exhibited some symptoms of a cold following Thursday's win over the Orioles. He remained away from the team for Saturday's game as a result, but after he subsequently tested negative for the virus in all of his rapid tests, Martinez will be allowed to rejoin the Red Sox. He'll serve as Boston's designated hitter and bat third in the order Sunday as the Red Sox conclude the divisional series.