MLB Player News

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Ohtani wasn't able to pitch Friday due to ongoing irritation in his left knee, which is expected to be addressed during the All-Star break. The superstar still got into the lineup as designated hitter and delivered a home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning. He's up to 21 homers on the year, including nine that have come in the first inning of games. That ties him with Drake Baldwin and Junior Caminero for the most first-inning homers in the majors. Ohtani is batting .290 with a .943 OPS, 57 RBI, 63 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples and six stolen bases over 90 games as a hitter this year.

Ohtani has been scratched from Friday's start against the Diamondbacks due to continued irritation in his left knee.

Ohtani will serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter Friday and for the rest of the weekend, but he will not pitch because of a nagging knee issue that first popped up a month ago. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani will have the knee drained and will likely receive an injection over the All-Star break, which will prevent him from participating in the All-Star Game. Kyle Hurt will start what will be a bullpen game for the Dodgers in Friday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks.

Eldridge went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Rockies.

Eldridge's blast tied the game at 2-2 for the Giants in the fourth inning. The slugger has gone 8-for-30 (.267) over eight contests in July, adding two homers, four RBI and a 4:12 BB:K in that span. For the season, he's hitting .275 with an .844 OPS, eight homers, 20 RBI, 26 runs scored and 12 doubles over 51 contests. He has a starting role between first base and designated hitter against right-handed pitchers, though he's also been in the lineup against four of the last five southpaws the Giants have faced.

Yelich is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in St. Louis.

Yelich started the previous eight games -- including both legs of a doubleheader Tuesday -- so he will get some rest in the series finale. Jake Bauers will occupy the designated hitter slot Thursday, and Andrew Vaughn will get a start at first base.

Polanco is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Polanco will take a seat for Thursday's matinee after he went a combined 2-for-8 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run while serving as the Mets' designated hitter in the first two games of the series following his return from the injured list. Francisco Alvarez will replace Polanco as New York's DH in the series finale.

Andujar went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Andujar has struggled for playing time lately, though he was able to get into the lineup as the designated hitter Wednesday while Manny Machado (foot) and Ty France sat out. Over his last 10 games, Andujar has gone 11-for-27 (.407) with four RBI and five doubles. He's batting .266 with a .731 OPS on the season while adding five home runs, 21 RBI, 21 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples and two stolen bases over 234 plate appearances. Andujar has previous experience in the outfield, but it doesn't look like he's in consideration yet to absorb at-bats in left field while Samad Taylor (oblique) is out -- Jase Bowen got the start there in this contest and could occupy a platoon role alongside Gavin Sheets at the position.

Ozuna will start at designated hitter and bat seventh Wednesday against Atlanta.

Ozuna will pick up just his second start through the Pirates' first seven games of July. Per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that Ozuna had been managing a toe injury that rendered him unavailable for a few of the Bucs' games in Washington over the weekend, but it's unclear if the 35-year-old would have started in any of those contests even if fully healthy. Ozuna has been a major disappointment this season, having thus far turned in a career-worst .610 OPS while striking out in 30.7 percent of his plate appearances.

Smith is not in the lineup for Wednesday's tilt in Pittsburgh.

It's righty Jared Jones on the bump for the Pirates, but the left-handed-hitting Smith will begin the contest on the bench. It's the first time since May 6 that Smith has been absent from the lineup when the opposition has a right-hander on the mound. Drake Baldwin is getting a start at designated hitter, and Joey Bart will be Atlanta's catcher.

Lowe is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Phillies.

Lowe is in a lengthy slump at the plate, slashing just .203/.313/.261 without a single RBI over his past 27 games. His playing time has dipped as a result, as Lowe hasn't made consecutive starts since June 26 and 27.

Yelich went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals.

The veteran slugger led off the twin bill with a ground-rule double before driving in runs with a single in the third inning and another two-bagger in the seventh. It was an encouraging effort from Yelich, but after he went 0-for-5 with another RBI in the nightcap, he's batting just .138 (4-for-29) to begin July with a homer, a steal, three runs and five RBI over seven games.