MLB Player News

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.

Ohtani's blast sparked a five-run rally for the Dodgers in the third inning. He's gone just 6-for-30 (.200) over seven games in August, but three of his knocks in that span have been homers, giving him 35 on the year -- one ahead of Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna for the National League lead. Ohtani is slashing .302/.389/.622 with 83 RBI, 87 runs scored, 32 steals, 29 doubles and four triples over 113 contests this season.

Pederson went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 3-2 win versus the Phillies.

The Diamondbacks designated hitter cracked a 393-foot long ball off Zack Wheeler in the third inning to push the team's lead to 2-0. Pederson has been scorching hot since the All-Star break, batting .350 (14-for-40) with six homers, 10 runs scored and 13 RBI across 16 games. It has been a resurgent year for the 32-year-old in Arizona, as he's now slashing .284/.392/.554 over 328 plate appearances this season.

McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against the Dodgers.

McCutchen will sit down for a second consecutive game Friday despite going 6-for-15 with a homer and four RBI since the start of August. His absence will put Joey Bart in as the designated hitter while Yasmani Grandal starts behind the plate.

Madris isn't in the Tigers' lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Madris will get a breather during Friday's series opener with left-hander Robbie Ray slated to take the mound for San Francisco. Andy Ibanez will step in to cover first base and bat leadoff.

Blankenhorn is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.

Blankenhorn will be withheld from the starting nine for a third consecutive game, though Friday's outing is the first of that stretch against a right-handed pitcher (Jose Soriano). The lefty-hitting Blankenhorn is 3-for-20 (.150) with a 38.1 percent strikeout rate in nine games this season. Harold Ramirez will bat seventh and DH on Friday.

Fry is out of the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Fry has gone 3-for-21 with two homers through his first six games in August and will take a seat for the matinee of Friday's twin bill. Jose Ramirez is resting his legs as the designated hitter while Daniel Schneemann shifts to third base and Brayan Rocchio starts at shortstop.

Garver entered Thursday's win over the Tigers as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and singled in his one plate appearance.

Garver was on the bench to start the night for the third time in the last four games, but he delivered when called upon in the eighth. The struggling veteran now has hits in back-to-back games, but the 0-for-19 stretch that immediately preceded that pair of contests is a microcosm of a nightmarish debut campaign in Seattle that sees him carrying a .170 average and career-low .623 OPS through 94 games.

Ozuna went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Brewers.

It was a rough night for Atlanta overall in a 16-7 rout, but Ozuna did what he could with a solo shot in the seventh inning off Bryse Wilson and an RBI groundout in the eighth. The veteran slugger is up to 33 homers and 88 RBI on the season, and he's been on a rampage over the last month, slashing .323/.377/.656 in his last 25 games with 10 long balls, 15 RBI and 19 runs.

Larnach is out of the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader versus the Guardians.

Larnach should be in the lineup for the second game of the twin bill, but he'll begin the matinee on the bench. The Twins have Manuel Margot in left field and Royce Lewis at designated hitter in the first contest.

Pederson isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup Thursday versus the Phillies.

Pederson will get a chance to rest as the Diamondbacks match up against left-hander Kolby Allard in Thursday's series opener. Ketel Marte will instead serve as Arizona's designated hitter while Kevin Newman picks up a start at second base.