MLB Player News

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 8-3 win over the Angels.

Making his first appearance since April 10 after landing on the COVID-19 list, Alvarez wasted no time making an impact, crushing a two-run homer in the first inning off Michael Lorenzen. He later singled and scored in the fourth before hammering another two-run shot in the seventh. The lefty slugger hadn't gone deep since Opening Day and he's now slashing .263/.364/.789 with six RBI.

Alvarez (illness) is starting Monday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed several days due to the league's COVID-19 protocols, but he reportedly didn't test positive for the virus. He rejoined the team Saturday and has now been reinstated from the COVID-19 IL prior to Monday's series opener against the Angels. In his first four appearances of the season, Alvarez went 2-for-14 with a home run, a double, two runs, two RBI and three walks.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that Buxton is "optimistic" about how he's progressed since suffering a right knee injury in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. "He's very optimistic about how he's feeling right now," Baldelli said of Buxton, who remains out of the lineup for Monday's series finale in Boston. "I think we're going to get to the point in the next day or two where we're talking about a specific plan for getting him back out there."

Buxton will miss his third straight game Monday and seems unlikely to be available for Tuesday's series opener in Kansas City, but the Twins appear to be encouraged that his absence won't extend much longer beyond that. A recent MRI already ruled out any structural damage to his knee, so at this stage, Buxton may just need some extra time for the pain and soreness to subside. Nick Gordon picked up the first two starts in center field sans Buxton, but Gilberto Celestino receive the starting nod Monday while Gordon heads back to the bench.

Solak started in left field and went 2-for-5 in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Angels.

Solak made a second consecutive start in left field while Brad Miller (back) remains sidelined. He likely would have started Sunday, regardless of Miller's injury, against a southpaw and is the primary fill-in against all opposing pitchers until Miller's ready. Solak is 6-for-19 with one extra-base hit and one RBI as a part-timer through six games.

Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run and a strikeout in Sunday's 8-1 win over Minnesota.

Martinez struck out five times during the first two games of the series against the Twins, but he was effective as part of a late offensive surge by the Red Sox in Sunday's victory. The 34-year-old has recorded hits in eight of his first nine appearances in 2022, hitting .250 with a homer, four doubles, six runs and six RBI.

Brantley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 7-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

Brantley smacked a two-run homer to right off Seattle starter Matt Brash in the sixth inning to account for both of Houston's runs before tacking on a single in the eighth. In addition to the long ball being Brantley's first, it was his first extra-base hit in five games as he's slashing .273/.333/.424 in the early going.

Alvarez (illness) said he expects to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list to play Monday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been sidelined the past few days due to the COVID-19 protocols, but he rejoined the team Saturday and should be back on the field for Monday's contest. The 24-year-old reportedly dealt with a fever four consecutive days, though he's now apparently recovered and on the cusp of returning to action.

Miller (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Miller was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to back tightness and will remain on the bench for Sunday's series finale. Left-hander Jose Suarez is pitching for the Halos, so the veteran infielder may not have been in the starting nine regardless of the injury. Miller will now have Monday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing more time. Nick Solak will start again in left field.

Solak started in left field in place of the injured Brad Miller (back) and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Angels.

Miller was a late scratch from the lineup, giving Solak an opportunity against right-handed starter Noah Syndergaard. With left-hander Jose Suarez on the bump Sunday for the Angels, Solak is expected to get another opportunity regardless of Miller's status. Solak is 4-for-14 (.286) with five runs, one home run and one RBI through five games.

Buxton (knee) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Though Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the right knee injury Buxton sustained in Friday's series opener will likely keep the outfielder out for around a week, the Twins have thus far resisted moving the 28-year-old to the injured list. Buxton will remain out Sunday and isn't expected to play in Monday's series finale either, but the Twins plan to have him travel to Kansas City for the team's upcoming series that runs Tuesday through Thursday. Buxton sounds like he could be ready to return to the lineup at some point during the series with the Royals, provided he incurs no setbacks in his recovery from the knee issue. Nick Gordon will spell Buxton in center field Sunday.