MLB Player News

Alvarez went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Sunday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.

Alvarez opened and closed the scoring in the same way, with near mirror-image solo shots in the first and ninth innings. He'd gone 0-for-9 with six walks over his last four games since a multi-homer effort versus the Brewers last Monday. Alvarez is up to 14 long balls, 48 RBI, 33 runs scored and a .291/.402/.612 slash line through 46 contests after Sunday's strong display of power.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Stanton (hamstring) could begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Stanton was able to take on-field batting practice against a pitching machine Friday, and the veteran slugger continues to make progress from the hamstring strain that has sidelined him since the middle of April. Assuming Stanton gets the green light to begin the rehab assignment Tuesday, Boone said that the 33-year-old might be cleared to return from the 10-day injured list ahead of next weekend's series with the Dodgers.

The White Sox reinstated Jimenez (appendectomy) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start in right field and bat second in the White Sox's series finale in Detroit.

Jimenez will get the green light to rejoin the White Sox after he completed a three-game rehab assignment at Double-A Birmingham in which he collected 12 plate appearances. The slugger ended up missing close to a month after undergoing an appendectomy, but he should be ready to handle a near-everyday role at either designated hitter or in the corner outfield now that he's been activated. The White Sox optioned Adam Haseley to Triple-A Charlotte to make room on the 26-man active roster for Jimenez.

Ohtani allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out 10 over six innings in a no-decision versus the Marlins on Saturday. He also went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base as a batter.

Ohtani racked up double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season and the first time in his last four starts. He's up to seven quality starts in 11 outings on the mound while posting a 2.91 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 90:28 K:BB over 65 innings. Ohtani has slumped a bit at the plate lately, going just 4-for-29 (.138) with a 4:10 BB:K as a hitter over his last eight games. He's up to seven steals, 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs scored and a .269/.344/.513 slash line at the plate. Ohtani's next pitching start is tentatively scheduled for a road date in Houston next week.

Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run Saturday in a loss to the Dodgers.

Ramirez gave Tampa Bay its first and only lead of the game with a two-run shot off Clayton Kershaw in the fifth inning. The long ball helped snapped a mini-slump for Ramirez, as he had gone 0-for-13 over his previous four contests. Despite that cold spell, he's still slashing a solid .292/.342/.514 overall this season.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told reporters Saturday that Jimenez (abdomen) could return as soon as Sunday against the Tigers.

Jimenez has been out since the start of May following an emergency appendectomy. If the slugger doesn't return Sunday, it seems likely that he'll be back as the starting designated hitter for the White Sox in the early part of next week.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Friday that Brantley (shoulder) has been swinging a bat but hasn't resumed hitting yet, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Brantley has been shut down since May 12 after it was revealed he was dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Because of the length of his absence, it seems plausible the veteran will need another rehab assignment. At this point it would be a surprise if Brantley is back in the lineup for Houston before the start of June.

Stanton (hamstring) took on-field batting practice against a pitching machine Friday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment early next week and could return to the Yankees' active roster during their three-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium that runs from June 2-4. The 33-year-old slugger had four home runs and 11 RBI through 13 games with New York when he suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in mid-April.

Ramirez isn't in Tampa Bay's lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Ramirez has been great at the plate all season but is currently in the middle of an 0-for-12 stretch across his last three games. He'll get the day off to regroup while Josh Lowe fills in as the Rays' DH, allowing Luke Raley to start in right field and bat eighth.

Manager Aaron Boone said Thursday he's hoping Stanton (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment early next week, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton was expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, though he isn't quite ready to take the final step in his recovery. At this point, his timeline to return appears to have been pushed back by only a few days.