MLB Player News

Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored Wednesday in the Angels' 5-1 win over the Reds.

Ohtani's final hit of the day proved to be the most pivotal, as his single off Raisel Iglesias in the bottom of the eighth put Mike Trout in position for the go-ahead run. Even as Ohtani continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery, the Angels haven't asked him to tone down his aggressive on the bases -- the stolen base was his fourth in 43 games this season. With Los Angeles wrapping up its first-half schedule with 11 games in 11 days -- all in American League parks -- Ohtani shouldn't be in danger of sitting out more than a game or two, making him a worthy lineup option in every format.

Alvarez left Thursday's game against the Pirates with left knee discomfort, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

He fouled a ball off his knee in Tuesday's game, but was able to finish that game and play Wednesday as the designated hitter. However, three innings in left field Thursday may have aggravated the issue. Tony Kemp replaced him. Alvarez should be considered day-to-day ahead of this weekend's home series against the Mariners.

General manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that he doesn't expect Stanton (knee) to return from the 10-day injured list in July, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton exited Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays with what was initially labeled as a right knee contusion, but a follow-up MRI revealed that he was actually dealing with a strained PCL. While Cashman didn't pinpoint an exact timeline for Stanton's return, he called August "the sweet spot" for when the slugger might resume playing again, per Hoch. With Stanton on the shelf for at least a month, Brett Gardner is expected to settle back into an everyday role in the outfield. Clint Frazier could also be recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the near future to offer another alternative while Stanton is sidelined.

Harper will start in right field and bat third Thursday against the Mets.

After a four-game run as the Phillies' leadoff man, Harper ceded those duties to Scott Kingery at the beginning of the week and has since returned to the lineup spot he's occupied for most of the season. Harper has gone 0-for-6 over the past two contests but has at least drawn three walks.

Choi is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Minnesota is bringing a southpaw (Martin Perez) to the hill for the series finale, so Choi and three other lefty-hitting regulars (Austin Meadows, Brandon Lowe and Joey Wendle) will hit the bench. With Choi resting, Travis d'Arnaud will receive a turn at first base and act as Tampa Bay's leadoff hitter.

Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the White Sox.

Martinez's first-inning, two-run homer snapped a string of 36 plate appearances without an extra-base hit. The consistent slugger has dealt with back injuries, which may have mitigated his power potential over the first half of the season. He's still slugging a robust .528, but that's 101 points lower than the mark he produced in 2018.

Dickerson hit cleanup and went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to Colorado.

Dickerson was also gunned out trying to steal second, making him 1-for-2 on stolen base attempts this season. The 29-year-old has gotten off to a strong start with his new club, slashing .429/.500/.857 with six extra-base hits and 10 RBI in just six contests. Dickerson had missed nearly three full seasons with a major back injury, but the outfielder showed some promise before going down in 2016 (10 homers and five steals over 84 games with the Padres that year). The veteran could be worth a flier for owners in need of pop, as his hot start should keep his name in the lineup on an offensively challenged Giants squad.

Reyes went 2-for-5 with two homers and three RBI in Wednesday's 10-5 win over the Orioles.

He took Dylan Bundy deep in the third inning and Shawn Armstrong in the fifth, leading the way in a five-homer barrage for the Padres. Reyes now has 22 homers and 39 RBI through 76 games on the year to go with a .247/.297/.547 slash line.

Stanton (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

This was expected after it was revealed that Stanton is dealing with a right PCL strain. The slugger will be reevaluated in 10 days, at which point a timetable for his return will hopefully emerge; at this point, it seems likely that he'll be sidelined through the All-Star break. Mike Tauchman was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding move, while Brett Gardner figures to see the majority of time in left field in place of Stanton.

Stanton (knee) will be placed on the 10-day injured list, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Stanton exited Tuesday's game with what was originally thought to be a right knee contusion, though after further evaluation it was revealed that the slugger is dealing with a strained PCL. This is a tough break for Stanton, who just returned from a lengthy stay on the injured list last week. According to Adler, Stanton will be reevaluated in 10 days, at which point a timetable for his return will hopefully emerge. Mike Tauchman will replace Stanton on the roster, while Brett Gardner -- who is starting in place of Stanton on Wednesday -- will likely benefit the most.