MLB Player News

Choi went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and three runs in a win over the Red Sox on Friday.

Choi was outstanding while hitting out of the heart of the lineup, extending what has been an impressive stretch of hot hitting. The 27-year-old has now hit safely in 10 straight starts, boosting his season average a full 50 points to .263 in the process. Choi continues to enjoy regular playing time, and his current .263/.341/.474 line that's partly comprised of seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two home runs) and six RBI is indicative of the well-rounded production he's offering.

Martinez is not expected to be in the lineup Saturday, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Martinez might be due for a day off, as he's played 27 consecutive games. There's nothing about his performance, however, to suggest he needs a break. Martinez has a 1.160 OPS with seven home runs and 25 RBI since his last day off.

Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run homer in Friday's loss to the Cardinals.

He connected for a two-run shot -- his 23rd of the year -- off starter Miles Mikolas in the fifth inning. Blackmon has had multi-hit performances in three of his last four games but is hitting just .224 with two homers and six RBI in August. The 32-year-old has just 55 RBI on the year but ranks fourth in the majors with 93 runs.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases in the Giants' 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Rangers on Friday.

The veteran outfielder stuffed the stat sheet, cranking his 15th homer and swiping his 12th and 13th bags of the season from atop the order. He hasn't produced at the level of his All-Star years this season, but McCutchen has managed to put together a solid campaign after a slow start, as he's now slashing .255/.354/.415 through 467 at-bats.

Turner went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI to help the Dodgers to an 11-1 win over the Padres on Friday.

Turner was right in the middle of the proceedings on a huge day for the Dodgers lineup, doing his part to help the cause with a fourth-inning two-run blast off Clayton Richard for his 10th long ball of the season. The 33-year-old has been red hot lately and he's now hitting an even .300 to go along with a robust .888 OPS over 240 at-bats.

Ohtani (elbow) will toss a bullpen session Friday, and he's slated to pitch a simulated game sometime next week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports.

Ohtani threw a successful simulated game Monday as he continues to rehab from a UCL sprain. If he manages to complete both throwing sessions without issue, expect Ohtani to toss a longer sim game or embark on a minor-league rehab stint in the near future.

Ohtani isn't in Friday's starting lineup against the Astros, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani will get another day to rest as he was out of the lineup Wednesday and the team had a scheduled day off Thursday. Albert Pujols is slated to serve as the designated hitter with Ohtani on the bench.

Pederson is not in the lineup versus San Diego on Friday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Pederson will head to the bench with left-hander Clayton Richard pitching for the Padres. Chris Taylor is set to roam center field and bat fifth in his place.

Soler (toe) took some at-bats against Ian Kennedy in a simulated game Friday, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic Kansas City reports.

Soler has been shut down since June 17 with a left toe fracture. It's positive news that he's hitting against live pitching, as this likely means he's almost ready for a rehab stint. More news on his progress should surface as Soler nears a return from the disabled list.

Canha is not in the lineup against the Twins on Thursday.

Canha will head back to the bench for the fourth time in the past six contests as Ramon Laureano gets another start in the outfield. At this point, Canha appears to have lost his grasp as a regular starter with manager Bob Melvin preferring an outfield composed of Nick Martini, Stephen Piscotty and Laureano.