MLB Player News

Schmitt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's 12-9 win over the Brewers.

The 27-year-old launched a leadoff homer to left-center field off Coleman Crow in the first inning, and Schmitt also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third. Additionally, he singled in the seventh, marking his fifth multi-hit performance over his last 12 outings. Schmitt is slashing .282/.316/.528 with 35 RBI, 28 runs scored, 13 home runs and five stolen bases across 231 plate appearances this season.

Smith entered Thursday's game to play first base after Ildemaro Vargas (thigh) was removed in the fifth inning. Smith went 0-for-1 in a 3-2 win over the Dodgers.

The lefty-hitting Smith would not have been the first choice as a replacement with Dodgers southpaw Justin Wrobleski still on the mound, but Jose Fernandez was already in the game as the DH. The Diamondbacks typically limit Smith's exposure to left-handers. Vargas is day-to-day and is not expected to suit up Friday against Washington lefty Foster Griffin, but it's unlikely Smith will be in the starting lineup.

Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Ohtani is dealing with a "small" blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, but it's a "non-issue" for his pitching starts moving forward, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was seen messing with the finger during Wednesday's start against Arizona, where he continued his dominance on the mound with six shutout innings to pick up his sixth win. He's out of the lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks, but it's a routine day off after making the start the night before. Ohtani is expected to be fine for his next start on the road against the Pirates next week and should be back in the lineup at DH versus the Angels on Friday.

Rooker isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs due to knee soreness, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mark Kotsay said the decision to sit Rooker down for a day was precautionary, as the team didn't want to risk his soreness evolving into a more serious issue. Shea Langeliers will work as the Athletics' DH with Rooker on the bench, allowing Jonah Heim to start behind the plate.

Ohtani is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Diamondbacks.

Ohtani is getting the day off as planned following his two-way start in Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Diamondbacks. Will Smith has the start as the designated hitter and is batting fifth while Mookie Betts takes Ohtani's typical leadoff spot.

Rooker is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Rooker had one hit in each of the first two games of the series but will get a breather during Thursday's finale. Shea Langeliers will receive a start in the designated hitter slot, and Jonah Heim will do the catching for the Athletics.

Bell is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Royals.

Bell is 9-for-26 at the plate during a modest seven-game hitting streak, but he will take a seat for Thursday's series opener. Byron Buxton is getting a start at designated hitter, while James Outman will patrol center field for the Twins.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Stanton (calf) will not be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's June 8-14 road trip, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton took live batting practice Wednesday and will do so again Saturday as he ramps things up, but he's still more than a week away from rejoining the active roster. It's unclear whether the Yankees will ask him to play rehab games before returning, but Stanton is tracking toward activation around mid-June.

Ohtani (6-2) allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six over six shutout innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He also went 3-for-4 with two walks and a run scored in the 7-0 victory.

Ohtani has allowed just one run on nine hits and nine walks across 24 innings over his last four starts. He was able to get through this outing on 89 pitches (58 strikes) while also making a noticeable contribution at the plate by getting on base five times. Ohtani is scheduled to be out of the lineup Thursday in the series finale, but he should be good to face his former team, the Angels, when the Dodgers open up a three-game series with their regional rivals Friday. For the season, Ohtani has pitched to a world-class 0.74 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 67:18 K:BB through 61 innings over 10 starts. He's also batting .301 with a .941 OPS, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 41 runs scored, six stolen bases, 14 doubles and two triples across 61 games at the plate. Ohtani's next pitching start is projected to be on the road in Pittsburgh.

Alvarez went 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 11-9 win over the Pirates.

Alvarez didn't add to his homer total -- all four of his hits were singles in his fifth multi-hit effort over his last eight contests. The slugger has six homers and 13 RBI over his last nine games, a span in which he's batting .400 (14-for-35). On the year, he's hitting .316 with a 1.075 OPS, 21 homers, 44 RBI, 41 runs scored, 12 doubles and a stolen base over 62 contests.