MLB Player News

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with his 15th home run of the season and three RBI in Triple-A Round Rock's 4-2 win over Oklahoma City on Sunday.

With a .436 average, three home runs and a 7:11 BB:K over his last 10 games, Alvarez only seems to be strengthening his bid for a promotion to the big leagues. The Astros haven't alluded to any potential callup date for Alvarez, whose eventual arrival in Houston may hinge on the performances of Tony Kemp and Tyler White in the games to come. One of those two players would likely need to be removed from the roster in order to open up a spot for the 21-year-old slugger.

Stanton (shoulder) took live at-bats at extended spring training Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

This marks a step in the right direction for Stanton, who had been limited to soft toss and tee work prior to his live BP session. The slugger also did some defensive work, though it remains to be seen when he'll return to game action. A timetable for Stanton's return will hopefully come into focus once he's cleared to begin a rehab stint.

Buxton went 3-for-3 with a double, walk and an RBI in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Tigers.

Buxton enjoyed a productive series against Detroit, starting in three of the four games and going 5-for-10 with two doubles, two walks, three runs and a stolen base. While Buxton has done a good job of cutting down on his strikeouts (career-best 23 percent rate) this season, his presence at the bottom of the Minnesota lineup may continue to hinder his run and RBI production.

Manager Bob Melvin told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM on Monday that Canha (wrist) has been activated from the 10-day injured list.

Canha will assume the active roster spot of first base/designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who was designated for assignment. Now apparently healthy after logging two rehab appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas over the weekend, Canha will serve as a depth option at first base and in the outfield. Most of the starts Canha receives will likely come against left-handed pitching.

Reyes went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Rockies.

The Padres trailed by seven runs entering the top of the ninth inning, but Reyes made the final outcome more respectable when he took Seung Hwan Oh deep with two outs and two runners on. The home run was Reyes' fifth in his last 12 games, with the slugger maintaining a 1.073 OPS during that stretch. Reyes' power surge looks like it will keep him in the lineup on an everyday basis for the foreseeable future, as Manuel Margot currently looks like the odd man out in San Diego's crowded outfield.

Belt (knee) hit a two-run home run in a pinch-hit appearance Sunday against the Reds.

Belt has missed the last two contests due to a knee issue, but he came through with a clutch two-run blast in the seventh inning to tie the game. The 31-year-old should have a chance to rejoin the lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays after benefiting from a scheduled off day Monday.

Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, a walk and three RBI to help the Rockies to a 10-7 win over the Padres on Sunday.

Blackmon helped key a big day for the Rockies offense with two big flies from atop the order, both of which came off Nick Margevicius. He's now working on a 10-game hitting streak, which has helped boost his slash line up to .305/.368/.573 to go along with eight homers through 164 at-bats.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, three RBI and three runs in an 11-2 victory against the Mariners on Sunday.

The 31-year-old entered Sunday significantly behind his home run pace from last season, but the two-bomb outing gets him nearly back on track. While Martinez may not be among the league leaders in homers, he's experiencing a strong start to the year. He is slashing .313/.393/.507 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 25 runs and one steal in 173 plate appearances this season. Martinez also has just 25 strikeouts versus 19 walks.

McCutchen went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored Sunday against Kansas City.

McCutchen was on base four times in the series finale, and he managed to score the go-ahead run in the fifth. The 32-year-old outfielder has been struggling so far this season through 38 games (.238/.370/.399 slash line), but Sunday's performance could be a sign that he's beginning to see the ball much better at the dish.

Belt (knee) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt made a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday's 5-4 loss, striking out in his lone trip to the dish. While the Giants' decision to use Belt off the bench offers hope that he'll avoid a trip to the injured list, his sore right knee looks like it might still be presenting complications for him in the field. With Belt idle for the second straight game, Pablo Sandoval will draw a start at first base.