MLB Player News

The Twins promoted Encarnacion-Strand from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita on Thursday.

Encarnacion-Strand had a .296/.370/.599 slash line with 20 home runs at High-A and earned Midwest League Player of the Month honors in both April and June. He's increased his walk rate (to 9.3 percent), slightly lowered his strikeout rate (25.8 percent in 2022, 28.3 percent in 2021) and increased his power (.303 ISO in 2022, .207 in 2021), so there are signs he can keep up his success at Double-A with an improved approach at the plate.

Winker went 2-for-8 with two solo home runs across both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Nationals.

Making his return to the lineup from a six-game suspension, Winker took Josiah Gray deep in the fourth inning of the matinee before repeating the feat in the sixth inning of the nightcap against Erick Fedde. The 28-year-old outfielder needed some time to adjust following an offseason trade from Cincinnati, but he appears to have found his groove in Seattle, slashing .288/.405/.530 in 21 games over the last month with four of his eight homers on the season.

Ohtani (9-4) allowed one run on four hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts in six innings, earning the win Wednesday over the Astros. He also went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple, a run scored and a walk at the plate.

Ohtani's two-way talent was once again on full display. He allowed an earned run for the first time since June 9 -- he'd covered 26.2 innings while allowing just one unearned run in his previous four starts. As a hitter, his second-inning two-run triple gave the Angels a 3-0 lead, which he succeeded in protecting. The right-hander now sports a 2.38 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 123:22 K:BB after his fourth straight start with double-digit strikeouts. His batting numbers remain strong as well, as he's up to a .258/.347/.494 slash line with 19 home runs, 56 RBI, 50 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 15 doubles and two triples in 369 plate appearances.

Stanton went 1-for-4 with solo home run in Wednesday's 7-6 win against the Reds.

Stanton went deep for a game-tying solo shot off Ian Gibaut in the bottom of the eighth inning, knotting up the score at 6-6. The homer was his 23rd of the season and fourth in 10 games in July. Since June 23, Stanton has gone 14-for-66 over 17 games, but nine of those hits have been long balls. On the year, the outfielder is batting .237 with 23 home runs, 57 RBI and 35 runs over 266 at-bats in 73 games.

Jimenez was removed from Wednesday's game against the Guardians with right leg tightness, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jimenez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before being replaced in the field for the bottom of the seventh inning. The severity of the injury remains unclear, and the 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

Lewis (concussion) started in left field for the first time in his rehab assignment during Triple-A Tacoma's loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday and also hit a home run for the fourth straight game in one of his two plate appearances.

Lewis exited the game in the top of the fifth inning for a defensive replacement, but not before leaving the yard yet again via a fourth-inning solo shot to center field. The 27-year-old certainly appears to have his timing back at the plate after going 5-for-9 with four round trippers and seven RBI in his last four games, but the Mariners would likely want to see him play at least one full game in the field before activation is considered.

Martinez (undisclosed) is starting at designated hitter and batting third against the Rays on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Martinez is back in the starting lineup after suffering from some unspecified soreness Tuesday and failing to play in the Red Sox's loss to the Rays. The 34-year-old currently owns a four-game hit streak, batting .412 with a homer, four RBI and seven runs over that span.

Cabrera isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Royals.

Cabrera is in the midst of a cold spell at the plate in which he's hit .045 with a double, three RBI, a run and a stolen base over the last six games. He'll get a breather while Harold Castro serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth.

Miller started at designated hitter and went 0-for-2 in Tuesday's 14-7 extra-innings loss to Oakland.

After Kole Calhoun started at DH on Monday, Miller got the start in the Rangers' second game without Mitch Garver, who had been the primary DH before undergoing season-ending surgery on his forearm. While Garver's injury creates more opportunities for Miller, he's still subject to matchups and is often pinch hit for against lefties, as was the case Tuesday when A.J. Puk entered the contest.

Manager Alex Cora said Martinez didn't appear off the bench during Tuesday's loss to the Rays due to some soreness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 34-year-old was held out of the lineup Tuesday for what appeared to be a routine maintenance day, but Cora announced after the game the slugger is managing some soreness. It doesn't appear to be a serious issue, so Martinez could be back in the starting nine for Wednesday's contest.