MLB Player News

Torrens hit a two-run home run in his only at-bat Thursday against the Athletics.

Torrens wasn't in the starting lineup Thursday, though he took advantage of his opportunity as a pinch hitter. He went yard against Jake Diekman in the sixth inning to record his 15th homer of the season. Prior to this long ball, Torrens had failed to go deep across his last 80 at-bats since Aug. 17. Overall the 25-year-old is hitting .236/.299/.431 across 345 plate appearances for the season.

Brantley's progress has slowed as he attempts to return from a knee injury, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Brantley was eligible to return from the injured list Wednesday, but he was not ready to be activated. Manager Dusty Baker gave an update Thursday, telling reporters that Brantley had initially progressed rapidly but has recently "hit a lull in the action." Baker went on to state that Brantley's return would take longer than the team had initially hoped, though did not provide any specific timeline.

Alvarez (soreness) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez was replaced in the eighth inning of Wednesday's win over the Angels due to soreness, and he'll get a day to rest in Thursday's series finale. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but Kyle Tucker will serve as the designated hitter while Jose Siri starts in right field.

Jimenez isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Jimenez will rest after he went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout in Thursday's matinee. Adam Engel will start in left field and bat second.

Buxton (foot) is starting Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Buxton was held out of Wednesday's lineup due to a foot injury, but he went 1-for-1 with a double off the bench. He'll start in center field and lead off in Thursday's series opener against the Blue Jays.

Ramirez isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox.

Ramirez will get a chance to reset after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Thursday's matinee. Oscar Mercado will start in left field and bat second.

Torrens will sit Thursday against Oakland.

Torrens sits for the third time in the Mariners' last four games. He's been the Mariners' primary designated hitter throughout the second half despite his modest .234/.297/.420 slash line. Kyle Seager will fill that role Thursday, with Dylan Moore taking Seager's usual spot at third base.

Ramirez (shoulder) is starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox.

Ramirez was out of the lineup in each of the last three games, but he'll be back in action during Thursday's matinee. He's starting in left field and batting seventh.

Ohtani went 0-for-2 with four walks in Wednesday's loss to Houston.

After hitting his 45th home run Tuesday, Ohtani was mostly avoided by Houston pitchers Wednesday. Two of the four free passes he was was given were intentional, including one in the 10th inning with nobody out. Ohtani's power output this season has likely contributed to his career-high 13.6 percent walk rate.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two total runs and three total RBI in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the Angels. He was replaced in the field in the eighth inning due to soreness, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports.

Playing left field and batting third in the order, Alvarez produced two big hits for Houston in the victory, launching a 456-foot two-run homer in the first inning and doubling in another run in the eighth. However, he was replaced in the bottom of the eighth frame with the score tied 5-5, and Astros manager Dusty Baker said after the game that Alvarez was "sore." It's unclear if this will be a multi-game injury, though Baker stated that Alvarez "probably won't play" in Thursday's series finale following the extra-innings win.