MLB Player News

Martinez (foot, calf) is starting in right field and hitting third Monday against the Rangers, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Not only are his left calf and right foot healthy enough for him to start the first game of this series, but he'll be asked to patrol the outfield. He was withheld from Sunday's game as a precaution, and hopefully he can avoid aggravating either minor injury prior to the All-Star break.

Belt went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, a double, an RBI and a pair of runs scored in Sunday's 13-8 victory over St. Louis.

Belt reached base four times after tallying three hits in Saturday's loss, upping his season slash line to .300/.393/.509 through 75 games. The 30-year-old's career-best marks weren't enough to earn him a starting spot in the upcoming All-Star Game, but he is one of the five last-chance finalists who can be voted into the Midsummer Classic. Belt is certainly performing like an All-Star for his fantasy owners this season, making him one of the better draft-day values at first base based on where he was being taken at the beginning of the year.

McCutchen went 3-for-6 with an RBI in Sunday's 13-8 win over the Cardinals.

McCutchen got off to a rough 1-for-15 start in July, but he has delivered five hits, two RBI and a stolen base over his last three contests. The 31-year-old is slashing a respectable .262/.345/.422 through 88 games, with just enough power (nine homers) and speed (seven steals) to maintain mixed-league value.

Ohtani (knee) was called upon to hit in the seventh inning of Sunday's tilt against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports, and hit a solo homer to win the game for the Angels.

Ohtani was held out of the lineup after fouling a ball off his right knee Saturday, but he appears to be okay after being used off the bench. He further demonstrated his health with his 443-foot big fly that proved to be the game-winner. He should be OK to re-enter the lineup sometime in the coming week.

Pederson is out of the lineup Sunday against the Angels.

Dodgers manager Mike Scioscia will hold Pederson out against Angels southpaw Andrew Heaney and open up a start in the outfield for lefty masher Enrique Hernandez. Pederson's .866 OPS is his highest mark in five big-league seasons, but the 26-year-old is still struggling to hit same-handed pitching. In 34 plate appearances versus lefties this season, Pederson has managed only four hits.

Ohtani (knee) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels are unsurprisingly playing things conservatively with the rookie phenom, who will head to the bench for the series finale after fouling a ball off his right knee late in Saturday's contest. It's not viewed as a major concern for Ohtani, who will benefit from two days off before the Angels play their next game Tuesday against the Mariners.

Carpenter is out of the lineup Sunday against the Giants.

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny will use an exclusively right-handed lineup to counter southpaw Madison Bumgarner, with the lefty-hitting Carpenter giving way at third base to Jedd Gyorko. Carpenter had started each of the Cardinals' last 22 games and has been one of the top offensive producers in the league over that stretch, slashing .321/.439/.728 with eight home runs, 22 runs and 15 RBI.

Miller is out of the lineup Sunday against the Braves.

Tyler Saladino will draw his fourth straight start at shortstop Sunday and appears to have overtaken Miller as the primary option at that position, but the latter still may have a path to playing time at the other middle-infield spot. Jonathan Villar will get the nod at the keystone Sunday with lefty Sean Newcomb on the hill for Atlanta, but Miller boasts a .274/.348/.465 slash line and 123 wRC+ versus right-handers this season, a steep upgrade over Villar's .251/.297/.338 line and 70 wRC+ in those same matchups. That discrepancy might make Miller the preferred candidate to occupy the strong side of a platoon at second base.

Martinez is being held out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals due to a sore left calf and sore right foot, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Martinez fouled pitches off both of his legs during Saturday's blowout victory, so manager Alex Cora decided it was prudent to give the slugger a day out of the lineup to rest. Cora noted that Martinez would still be available off the bench to pinch hit Sunday and would likely rejoin the lineup Monday against the Rangers.

Martinez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

The Red Sox haven't indicated Martinez is dealing with any sort of physical issue, so it appears he's merely getting a rest again Sunday, despite receiving the day off six days earlier against the Nationals. In between the two days off, Martinez has remained scorching-hot at the plate, delivering two-hit performances in each of his four starts. Steve Pearce will serve as Boston's designated hitter in the series finale with Martinez on the bench.