MLB Player News

Alvarez (knee) will start at designated hitter and bat second Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series versus the Tigers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez missed the final week of the regular season with a right knee sprain, but he's progressed sufficiently enough to be included on the Astros' wild-card series roster and in their Game 1 lineup. The 27-year-old slashed .308/.392/.567 with 35 home runs in 147 games this season.

Alvarez (knee) will do some hitting and running Monday at Minute Maid Park to test out his potential availability for the wild-card series, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Astros manager Joe Espada had said Sunday that Alvarez was going to take batting practice Monday, and now he's revealed that the slugger will do some running, too. How he feels during and after the workout will determine whether Alvarez will be part of the team's roster for the first round of the postseason. Alvarez has missed a little over a week of action with a right knee sprain.

Harris went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Sunday's win over the Angels.

Harris' first career hit was a two-run double in the seventh inning. He then belted his first MLB homer in the ninth. It was Harris' second appearance for the Rangers, and before his late-September promotion, he'd posted a .749 OPS through 131 games for Triple-A Round Rock.

Alvarez (knee) is expected to take part in some hitting work with the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez has been working his way back from a right knee sprain that he suffered Sept. 22. The lefty slugger still has some boxes to check, but manager Joe Espada is more optimistic than he was earlier in the week that Alvarez will be able to contribute to Houston's postseason efforts. The Astros will begin their wild-card series with the Tigers in Houston on Tuesday, but as yet it's unclear if Alvarez will be available.

Yoshida may have right shoulder surgery soon, Carlos Yamazaki of Tokyo Sports Press reports.

Yoshida also expressed frustration about not getting enough at-bats and being a full-time designated hitter this year, per Chris Ryan of New Hampshire Today. The 31-year-old slashed .280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs, 45 runs, 56 RBI and two steals in 108 games this year. He will be UT-only next year in fantasy in the vast majority of formats after getting just one start in the outfield.

Yoshida is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Mickey Gasper will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth in the Red Sox's regular-season finale. Barring a pinch-hit appearance, Yoshida will end his second season in Boston having slashed .280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs and 56 RBI across 421 plate appearances.

Rooker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday.

Rooker took Emerson Hancock deep in the fifth inning with Max Schuemann aboard to cut a 3-0 deficit to one run. The round tripper marked Rooker's first time leaving the yard since Sept. 16 and puts him just one shy of reaching the 40-homer mark heading into the final day of the regular season Sunday.

Manager Joe Espada said Saturday that Alvarez (knee) could resume baseball activities Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The skipper didn't specify what exactly Alvarez will be doing, but the fact Alvarez is nearing a return to activity is a good sign that his sprained knee is trending in the right direction. Once the 27-year-old slugger is able to test out his knee, the team may have a better idea of whether he'll be ready for the start of the AL Wild Card Series.

Yoshida isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against Tampa Bay.

Yoshida went 1-for-11 while starting each of Boston's last three games, and he'll get a chance to catch his breath Saturday. Mickey Gasper will work as Boston's DH and bat fifth.

Garver went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over the Athletics.

Garver's second-inning homer was all the run support Bryan Woo needed. Garver is up to 15 homers this year, including three over his last seven games. The 33-year-old has mostly had a disappointing season for the Mariners, posting a .172/.286/.341 slash line with 51 RBI, 37 runs scored and 17 doubles across 113 contests.