MLB Player News

Ohtani pitched four scoreless innings during which he allowed one hit and six walks and recorded seven strikeouts in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday. He did not factor in the decision.

There were two sides to Ohtani's story Tuesday. He managed to get through four innings on his limited pitch count without allowing any runs and fanning seven. However, his six walks are concerning. The two-way player has struggled in the past with command issues and his high walk rate was therefore concerning, especially coming against one of the worst offenses in the league. He has 11 walks in 8.2 innings this season.

Brantley went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to Colorado.

Houston managed only five hits in the contest, and Brantley was responsible for three of them. He picked up his third three-hit game of the campaign while taking his first walk since Opening Day. Brantley has been solid contributor near the top of the lineup this season, slashing .327/.365/.592 across 52 plate appearances.

Reyes went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run during Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the White Sox.

The 25-year-old was mired in an 0-for-13 slump before sitting out his first game of the season Friday, but he's 5-for-12 with a double, an RBI and a run over the past three games. Reyes has a .273/.317/.545 slash line with four home runs, three doubles, nine RBI, eight runs and 18 strikeouts through 15 games.

Belt was removed from Tuesday's win over the Phillies with tightness in his right quadriceps, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 33-year-old went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run and two strikeouts before being lifted during the latter stages of the contest. Belt will be reevaluated Wednesday morning and could receive the day off, especially since the series finale is a day game.

Mercedes left Tuesday's game against Cleveland after fouling a ball off his left foot, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before being replaced in the field during the fifth inning after fouling a ball off his foot earlier in the contest. Mercedes could take a seat for Wednesday's series finale to provide two full days of rest with a scheduled off day Thursday.

Alvarez (COVID-19 injured list) was activated but is not starting Tuesday in Coors Field, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

With the Astros playing in a National League park, Alvarez will only serve as a pinch hitter in his return from the IL. He should resume his designated hitter duties Thursday at home against the Angels.

Cabrera (biceps) may be able to take live batting practice by the end of the week, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

He is taking batting practice in the cage Tuesday, and it sounds like Cabrera won't be able to return until early next week at the earliest. In the meantime, Renato Nunez will serve as the primary designated hitter.

Carpenter is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Tommy Edman will move from right field to second base while Carpenter heads to the bench for only the second time in seven games. With Tyler O'Neill (groin) and Harrison Bader (forearm) both on the injured list, Edman will be needed in the outfield more frequently in the short term, so Carpenter should see steady work at second base. The veteran is sitting on a .419 OPS and 35.9 percent strikeout rate through 39 plate appearances, but a 26.3 percent barrel rate and 68.4 percent hard-hit rate -- both which rank in the top one percent of all players -- suggest that better days could be ahead for Carpenter.

Rooker (neck) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game in Oakland, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The timing worked out well for Rooker, who had been traveling with the team, as Max Kepler was placed on the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move, so there should be some playing time available in the short term. Alex Kirilloff was not an option to be promoted, as he is at the team's alternate training site in St. Paul and the team didn't want to fly players to the West Coast commercially during the pandemic. Rooker has six strikeouts in 11 at-bats.

McCutchen will not start Tuesday's game against the Giants.

McCutchen sits for the third time in the Phillies' first 17 games. He's struggled at the plate this season in everything but the walk department, hitting .157/.306/.255. Matt Joyce will start in left field Tuesday.