MLB Player News

Alvarez hit three solo home runs for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Alvarez, Houston's third-ranked prospect, had himself a day to remember. The left-handed hitting outfielder showed off his all-fields stroke, depositing two of his home runs into the left-center seats and the third to straight-away center. The 21-year-old exploded as a prospect in 2018, bashing 20 homers between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno while having no issue against left-handed pitching (.349/.384/.453). The Astros are chock full of outfielders in Houston, and Alvarez is behind fellow Round Rocker Kyle Tucker as a prospect, so don't expect him to have any significant role in the majors in 2019.

Brantley went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a second run scored in Saturday's 6-0 win over the A's.

The outfielder's second home run of the year was part of a four-run fifth inning that broke the game open. Brantley is only hitting .219 (7-for-32) through nine games to begin his Houston tenure, but he has solid five-category upside as long as he keeps his spot in the heart of the Astros' order.

Jimenez went 3-for-4 in Saturday's 9-2 loss to Seattle.

Jimenez singled the first three times he went to the plate, giving him the first three-hit day of his career. The rookie still seeks his first extra-base hit, but, after a slow start, he's gone 5-for-13 over the last three games. He's seeing a steady dose of off-speed pitches, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports, citing Statcast figures that indicate 55 percent 119 pitches he's faced are off-speed offerings. The White Sox are hopeful he'll continue to adjust to how opponents are game-planning him.

Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI in a 7-4 win over the Royals on Saturday.

All three hits were singles, but the Tigers and fantasy owners alike won't complain about the veteran stringing together some hits. Cabrera is off to a slow start with a .226 average and .594 OPS with no home runs and just two RBI through 31 at-bats, so maybe this performance will get him going.

Martinez will sit for the first time this season Saturday against Arizona, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Martinez will be the odd man out as the Red Sox play in a National League park. Expect him to fill an outfield spot in Sunday's series finale.

Vogelbach went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the White Sox on Friday.

Vogelbach homered for the second time this season when he clubbed a Reynaldo Lopez offering 360 feet to left field in the fourth inning. The 26-year-old has been sporadically used through the first nine games, but he does have multi-hit outings in two of his three starts.

Miller is not in Saturday's lineup against the Blue Jays, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

With lefty Thomas Pannone on the hill for Toronto, Miller takes a seat. Max Moroff starts at second base and will hit eighth.

Choi went 3-for-4 with a double and a run in a win over the Giants on Friday.

Choi continues to profile as one of the Rays' hottest hitters in the early going. The 27-year-old already has three multi-hit outings on the season, though Friday's two-bagger was his first extra-base hit of the campaign. Factoring in his production against the Giants, Choi is now hitting .348 over his first six games.

Buxton (back) is starting in center field and hitting eighth Saturday against the Phillies, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports

He needed three days to recover from the bruised back he suffered when he slammed against the outfield wall Tuesday but fortunately did not need a stint on the injured list. Despite that missed time, he still managed a stolen base as a pinch runner Wednesday.

Buxton (back) is not starting Friday against the Phillies.

Buxton wasn't in the lineup Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game with a sore back. He did enter that contest as a pinch runner, but he's not ready to hit even after Thursday's off day. Max Kepler stars in center with Jake Cave in right.