MLB Player News

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Royals.

Ohtani's two-run double in the seventh inning had an exit velocity of 119 mph. As Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com notes, Ohtani is just the fifth player to reach 119 mph since Statcast was introduced in 2015. The other four: Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Nelson Cruz. A blister on Ohtani's right middle finger is keeping the two-way star off the mound in games, but Bollinger reports the Angels are hopeful Ohtani will be able to pitch by early next week.

Ohtani threw a light, 10-pitch bullpen session Monday without a bandage on his blistered finger, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The blister scratched Ohtani from his scheduled Sunday start against the Blue Jays. He hasn't been ruled out from starting sometime later this week, and the bullpen session does represent some amount of progress, but he's likely to need a longer session before returning to game action. He's been able to hit despite the blister and remains the starting designated hitter Monday against the Royals.

Cabrera doesn't have anything worse than a mild strain in his left bicep and may not need anything more than a minimum-length stay on the injured list, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera landed on the 10-day injured list Sunday and didn't initially have a clear timeline, but it appears as though he's avoided a particularly serious injury. He'll be eligible to return April 21 against the Pirates.

Martinez went 4-for-6 with three home runs, four RBI, four runs and two strikeouts in Sunday's 14-9 win over the Orioles.

Martinez missed Saturday's game against Baltimore due to cold symptoms, but he was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list for Sunday's series finale. He stayed hot at the plate in the win and recorded his third career three-homer game. The 33-year-old has tied a franchise record by recording eight consecutive games with extra-base hits to begin the season. Martinez now leads the majors with five home runs, seven doubles and 16 RBI this year.

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Mariners.

Buxton contributed a two-RBI double in the third inning, then took Mariners starter Chris Flexen deep for a two-run homer in the fifth. The 27-year-old Buxton has hit well to start 2021, with five homers, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base across 30 plate appearances. He has a .481/.548/1.185 slash line while often hitting in the heart of the order.

The Angels plan to have Ohtani complete a bullpen session Monday, though he may have to pitch with a bandage over his blistered finger, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani will continue to play regularly as a designated hitter while he contends with the blister, but the Angels want to see how he checks out during a throwing session before determining when he'll make his next start on the mound. The Angels have already excluded Ohtani from their pitching schedule for their three-game series in Kansas City that begins Monday, but if the lefty checks out fine during the bullpen session, he could return to the hill at some point during the Halos' series with the Twins next weekend.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Sunday that Rooker (neck) should begin receiving at-bats in simulated games at the Twins' alternate site in Saint Paul during the upcoming week, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Rooker appears to be tracking toward a minimum-length stay on the 10-day injured list, but he's not expected to have a regular role waiting for him in Minnesota once he's reinstated. With third baseman Josh Donaldson (hamstring) seemingly in line to come off the IL on Monday, Luis Arraez will likely shift to left field to handle an everyday gig. Rooker and Jake Cave had previously been vying for at-bats in left.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday that Cabrera (biceps) is without a clear timeline for a return from the 10-day injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Cabrera was moved to the IL earlier Sunday with a left biceps strain, an injury that previously bothered the veteran during the 2016 and 2018 seasons. While Cabrera isn't believed to be dealing with a ruptured tendon -- which sidelined him for a large portion of 2018 -- the Tigers will still send him for more tests Sunday in order to ascertain the extent of his injury. Renato Nunez was called up from the Tigers' alternate site in a corresponding move, and he's expected to serve as the primary replacement for Cabrera at first base or designated hitter.

The Red Sox reinstated Martinez (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale in Baltimore.

Martinez was placed on the COVID-19 IL in accordance with health and safety protocols after he exhibited some symptoms of a cold following Thursday's win over the Orioles. He remained away from the team for Saturday's game as a result, but after he subsequently tested negative for the virus in all of his rapid tests, Martinez will be allowed to rejoin the Red Sox. He'll serve as Boston's designated hitter and bat third in the order Sunday as the Red Sox conclude the divisional series.

The Tigers placed Cabrera on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left biceps strain, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Cabrera had gotten off to a poor 3-for-24 start to the season at the plate, but he wasn't known to be dealing with an arm injury until he was placed on the IL prior to Sunday's series finale in Cleveland. The 37-year-old notably missed extensive time in 2018 with a ruptured left biceps tendon, so it's somewhat troubling that he's dealing with a related injury, albeit one of lesser severity. The Tigers selected the contract of Renato Nunez from the alternate site to fill Cabrera's spot on the active roster, and Nunez could be in store for regular work at either first base or designated hitter while the two-time MVP is on the shelf.