MLB Player News

Ohtani (elbow) will travel to Detroit ahead of the Angels' three-game series with the Tigers. The Angels plan to assess Ohtani's condition prior to Tuesday's game before providing an update on his availability.

The Angels have been coy regarding a target date for Ohtani's season debut, but comments Sunday from general manager Billy Eppler suggest it will happen at some point during the team's road trip. With Ohtani having recently completed the 40 plate appearances against live pitching the Angels said would be necessary before he returned, the team will have doctors take a look at the 24-year-old's elbow before a next step is determined. If nothing concerning turns up during the evaluation, it's possible Ohtani enters the lineup Tuesday as the Angels' designated hitter.

The Mets transferred Cespedes (heels) to the 60-day injured list Monday.

The transaction has no bearing on Cespedes' recovery timetable, as the Mets had already ruled him out beyond the first 60 days of the season. A firm target date for Cespedes' 2019 debut probably won't come into focus until the 33-year-old gets cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. At this stage in his rehab, Cespedes has been able to throw in the outfield and hit in the batting cage, but he has yet to initiate a running program.

Ozuna went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs in a loss to the Cubs on Sunday.

Ozuna's ninth-inning homer may have come in "garbage time" for the Cardinals, but it served as yet more tangible evidence of the fitness of the outfielder's previously ailing shoulder. The veteran snapped a modest seven-game long-ball drought with his blast, and his second multi-hit effort of the month elevated him out of a 1-for-11 stretch that had encompassed his previous three games.

Ramirez could be the next outfielder the Marlins call up to the big leagues, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

The unheralded 24-year-old signed a minor-league deal with Miami in the offseason after never rising above Double-A for either the Pirates or Blue Jays, but Ramirez has been very impressive to begin 2019 for Triple-A New Orleans, slashing .356/.414/.584 through 28 games with four homers and a respectable 6:18 BB:K. He's not on the 40-man roster, but on a team as talent-starved as the Marlins, finding room for him once the organization deems him ready for the majors shouldn't be a big obstacle.

Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.

With lefty Drew Pomeranz on the mound for the Giants and first pitch in the series finale set for 12:35 p.m. EDT, Winker will receive a routine breather. Jose Peraza will fill in for Winker in left field and bat eighth.

Brantley went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Angels.

Brantley clocked his two-run shot in the ninth inning to give Houston a 10-4 lead just for good measure. The first-year Astro started April by going 0-for-15 in his first four games. Since then, he's gone 39-for-103 with 14 extra-base hits and 20 RBI.

Harper went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Nationals.

Harper extended the lead to four in the sixth inning with a single to right field, scoring Zach Eflin. The 26-year-old slugger has gotten off to a slow start at the dish so far this season, hitting .233 with six homers and 21 RBI over 33 contests. His last home run dates back to April 26 against the Marlins.

General manager Billy Eppler wouldn't specify when Ohtani (elbow) might return from the 10-day injured list, but he noted he's "hopeful" the 24-year-old would be available at some point during the Angels' road trip that begins Tuesday in Detroit, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani faced another round of live pitching Sunday and appears to have reached the approximately 40 competitive plate appearances the Angels said he would require prior to being activated. Before departing for Detroit, the Angels will presumably reassess the condition of Ohtani's right elbow and then determine whether or not he's ready to make his 2019 debut. It's unlikely the Angels will ask Ohtani to play on an everyday basis upon being reinstated -- at least not right away -- so even if he joins the lineup Tuesday, it might be best for fantasy managers in most leagues to continue stashing him on the bench or in an injured list spot this week.

Dickerson is in the lineup, hitting fifth and playing left field against the Dodgers on Sunday, Bill Center of Padres.com reports.

Dickerson has seen action off the bench in two games since he was called up from Triple-A El Paso on Friday, and he'll draw his first start of the season for this contest against the Dodgers. The 28-year-old was slashing .360/.462/.593 with five homers in Triple-A before getting called up.

Pederson sits Sunday against lefty Nick Margevicius and the Padres.

The Dodgers are in the middle of a stretch in which they face six straight lefties. Pederson has started only once in that stretch and may sit again Monday against Max Fried and the Braves. Chris Taylor starts in left field.