MLB Player News

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Ohtani has played 6.1 innings in the corner outfield this season, but the Angels have thus far been unwilling to have him make a start in the field on his non-pitching days. With no designated-hitter spot available at Chase Field, Ohtani will be limited to a bench role for the second day in a row.

Manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that Choi's (groin) two games at extended spring training went "really well" and that the first baseman will be further evaluated Sunday before potentially being activated Monday in Chicago, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

While Cash didn't explicitly say that Choi will be reinstated for the series against the White Sox, things appear to be trending in that direction. Choi has been on the shelf since suffering a left groin strain June 2 and could return after barely eclipsing the minimum stay on the IL.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton (hip) will travel with the team Monday for the start of the Twins' three-game series in Seattle, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Baldelli didn't explicitly say when Buxton will be activated from the 10-day injured list, but this update points toward the outfielder being reinstated soon. Baldelli did mention that Buxton is dealing with some soreness following his rehab assignment and that the center fielder will go through a full workout Monday and then likely again Tuesday, per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton has been out since May 6 with a Grade 2 hip strain and has appeared in three rehab games for Triple-A St. Paul, going 5-for-10 with two home runs, a double and a triple.

Mercedes is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Tigers, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Mercedes will get a breather as Jose Abreu moves to DH and Yasmani Grandal shifts to first base Sunday. Mercedes is just 6-for-33 with no homers in June, though he did log two hits in Saturday's win.

Solak is batting just .161 (15-for-93) against right-handers since May 1, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Solak was held out of Saturday's starting lineup against Dodgers right-hander Trevor Bauer in what could be a more regular occurrence. He was replaced by Eli White, who recently has played the outfield but came up through the system as a utility infielder. White was hitless with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's game.

Mercedes went 2-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 15-2 win over the Tigers.

Mercedes has hit his first sustained slump, entering Saturday's contest with just eight hits over his past 64 at-bats (.125 average). Manager Tony La Russa tried moving him to second in the order the previous two games in an effort to break the slump. A positive sign is that Saturday's effort was the third time in the last four games he's had a hit. Despite the slump, Mercedes remains second on the club with 34 RBI.

Solak is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Solak sits for just the second time all season despite his mediocre .234/.307/.393 slash line. He's been particularly poor over his last 20 games, hitting just .152/.212/.222. Eli White takes over at second base in his absence.

Ohtani will not be in the lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani got to play both sides of the ball Friday, as he struck out eight on the mound and grabbed a pair of hits at the plate. There's no designated hitter available with the series taking place under National League rules, however, so Ohtani will likely be stuck on the bench Sunday as well.

Canha will sit Saturday against the Royals.

Canha gets a rest after going hitless in four of his last five games. Skye Bolt will start in center field in his absence.

Soler will not start Saturday's game against the A's.

Soler has struggled to a .180/.270/.335 line at the plate this season, homering just six times, though two of those home runs have come in his last five games. Salvador Perez will rest his legs as the designated hitter in Soler's absence, with Cam Gallagher entering the lineup behind the plate.