MLB Player News

Ohtani (1-0) earned the win Monday after holding the Rangers to four runs on three hits and a pair of walks while striking out nine across five innings. At the plate, Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a walk and three runs scored.

Making his first start on the road this season, Ohtani got off to a shaky first inning that was highlighted by a three-run home run by Nate Lowe, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by David Dahl. Ohtani has struggled with command this season, including first-pitch strike percentage, registering under 50 percent while tallying 13 walks in 13.2 innings. The two-way player helped his own cause in the second inning by hitting a two-run double and eventually scoring a game-tying run. From there, Ohtani regained his confidence on the mound, blanking the Rangers the rest of the way. His success continued at the plate as well, including a bunt and a run scored in the sixth. It was only the second time in Ohtani's MLB career that he both pitched and hit during a game. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old made history by becoming the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to start a game on the mound while also leading MLB in home runs. Ohtani will look to continue his success at home Monday against the Rays.

Rooker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 5-3 loss to Cleveland.

Rooker got the Twins on the board in the top of the second inning with a solo homer to center. The 26-year-old was activated from the 10-day IL on April 20 and is now 2-for-21 with the lone home run and one walk through seven contests in 2021.

Cabrera went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI in Monday's loss to the Royals.

Cabrera went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his return to the lineup Sunday, but the veteran looked more comfortable in his second game back. He had previously missed two weeks with a strained biceps, and the Tigers will likely find him some rest days in the near future to help preserve his body across the full season.

Turner isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Reds, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Turner is just 4-for-24 in his last seven contests, so he'll get a night off to hit the reset button. Edwin Rios is starting at third base and will bat eighth.

Ford isn't starting Monday's game against Baltimore.

Ford homered in Sunday's loss to Cleveland, but he'll retreat to the bench for the third time in the last four games. DJ LeMahieu will take over at first base while Rougned Odor starts at the keystone.

McCutchen will sit Monday against the Cardinals.

The Phillies are calling this just a routine day off for McCutchen, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, but it would hardly be a surprise if he finds himself on the bench more often going forward. His 17.5 percent walk rate remains excellent, but that's just about all that's going well for him at the moment, as he's hitting just .154 and slugging .231. The left-handed Brad Miller, who starts in his place Monday, would make for an obvious platoon partner, but the Phillies aren't expected to go in that direction quite yet.

Miller (neck) will lead off and play left field Monday against the Cardinals.

Miller finds himself starting for the first time since getting scratched Friday with neck stiffness, though he did appear off the bench in Sunday's contest. He'll start in place of Andrew McCutchen, who could begin to sit more frequently if he can't turn his .154/.300/.231 slash line around.

Choi (knee) will take some at-bats at the Rays' alternate training site Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Choi underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee March 31, and the recovery timetable is believed to be 4-5 weeks. The 29-year-old appears to be making good progress, and the team hopes to get him approximately 30 at-bats before he's ready to return to game action. Choi will join Triple-A Durham for the first series of the minor-league season and could be in line to make his season debut shortly after.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is being held out of the lineup for Monday's game in Cleveland due to a sore knee stemming from lingering patellar tendinitis, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

According to Baldelli, Buxton has been experiencing tendinitis throughout the season, but it hasn't hindered him from a performance standpoint in what's been a tremendous start to the season. Per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, Buxton woke up Monday with more soreness than usual in the knee, but Baldelli indicated the outfielder will still be available off the bench for the series opener. The Twins plan to re-evaluate Buxton on Tuesday with the hope that he'll be ready to rejoin the lineup for the second game of the series.

Buxton is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Cleveland, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Though Buxton started each of the last six games, he's recently removed from a minor hamstring strain, so the Twins may have been eager to give him a day off. Jake Cave will start in center field Monday in place of Buxton, who is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday.