MLB Player News

Ohtani is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale at Baltimore, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani served as the designated hitter for all five games since coming off the injured list Tuesday but will head to the bench Sunday. The 24-year-old has struggled so far by going 4-for-21 with three RBI and zero extra-base hits. Albert Pujols will serve as the DH on Sunday while Justin Bour starts at first base.

Jimenez (hamstring) ran the bases for a second straight day Saturday, Madeline Kenney of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Jimenez, who also ran the bases Friday, is inching closer to a rehab assignment. While he's on the injured list, Nicky Delmonico is picking up starts in left field.

Brantley went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 11-4 rout of the Rangers.

The former Cleveland outfielder continues to thrive in the heart of the Houston order. Brantley is now slashing .340/.387/.607 through 39 games with 10 homers, three steals, 25 runs and 29 RBI.

Blackmon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.

The 32-year-old is red hot at the plate, hitting safely in nine straight games and slashing .368/.455/.789 over that stretch with nine of his 14 hits going for extra bases (five doubles, a triple and three homers). Blackmon's OPS on the year now sits at an even .900.

Belt (knee) went 0-for-1 with a strikeout in his lone plate appearance in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Reds.

Belt wasn't in the starting nine after tweaking his surgically repaired right knee Friday. An MRI on Saturday revealed no structural damage, and his presence off the bench bodes well for a potential return to the starting lineup in Sunday's series finale against Cincinnati.

Belt had an MRI on his sore knee which showed no significant injury, and he's available off the bench Saturday against the Reds, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt had said he didn't believe the injury was a serious one, and the test agreed with him. Pablo Sandoval is starting Saturday but could head back to the bench Sunday.

Belt (knee) is on the bench Saturday against the Reds, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt left Friday's game with knee soreness and will require at least one game on the bench. He reportedly doesn't believe the injury to be a serious one, though the Giants have yet to set a clear timeline for his return. Pablo Sandoval gets the start at first base in his absence.

Ramirez's contract was selected by the Marlins on Saturday, and he'll head straight into the starting lineup against the Mets, batting seventh and playing left field, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Ramirez hit a blistering .355/.408/.591 in 31 games for Triple-A New Orleans. The Marlins have very few locked-down roles anywhere on their roster, so he could have a shot to win a steady job should he impress in his first few games.

Canha (wrist) went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Triple-A Las Vegas' extra-innings loss to Salt Lake on Friday.

Canha is with the Aviators for what should be a short stint that will allow him to log a few at-bats before activation. The veteran's double lends credence to the notion his sprained wrist is well on its way back to full strength, and he should have a chance to build on his positive performance in two additional games this weekend.

Buxton is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Tigers, according to Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com.

Buxton has just two hits in 14 at-bats over his last four games, so manager Rocco Baldelli decided he would not start both games of Saturday's double dip. Max Kepler will get the start in center field in place of Buxton, who figures to be back in the lineup for Game 2.