MLB Player News

Martinez was removed from Sunday's game against the Reds due to left hamstring tightness.

The veteran slugger missed two games with the same issue early last week and apparently isn't fully past the injury. Martinez didn't have a plate appearance Sunday before being replaced for a pinch hitter during the second inning. He'll have Monday's team off day to rest up ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus the A's.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Lefty Brennan Bernardino is serving as Boston's opener Sunday, which is apparently enough to keep Pederson on the bench to start the contest. The veteran slugger has found his power stroke early in the second half with three homers and a 1.000 OPS through 14 games.

Jimenez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Jimenez started the past nine games after sitting out a few contests with a groin issue, and he'll receive a day off after hitting .400 with a home run, three doubles and seven RBI during that span. Jake Burger will serve as the designated hitter while Elvis Andrus starts at the keystone.

Soler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler started the past 26 games, but he has a .441 OPS since the All-Star break and will head to the bench Sunday. Garrett Cooper will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Yuli Gurriel starts at first base.

Choi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

With Carlos Santana having been traded to the Brewers on Thursday, Choi has settled in as the Pirates' primary option at first base, starting each of the last three games at the position while going 4-for-12 with a home run, two doubles and an additional run and RBI. Though Connor Joe will get the nod at first base Sunday while southpaw Cristopher Sanchez takes the hill for Philadelphia, the lefty-hitting Choi should be fairly secure in a strong-side platoon role.

Belt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

The Angels are bringing another lefty (Tyler Anderson) to the hill for the series finale, so the lefty-hitting Belt will remain on the bench for the second day in a row. With Belt on the bench, Alejandro Kirk will serve as Toronto's designated hitter.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Marlins.

Cabrera showed a glimpse of his vintage form during his return to Miami, where he started his career and spent three productive seasons before getting traded to Detroit. The 40-year-old is no longer close to that level, as he has just one home run and a middling .653 OPS this year, which keeps him off the fantasy radar despite his Hall of Fame credentials.

Vientos went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 11-6 loss to the Nationals.

The rookie took Andres Machado deep in the ninth inning for a solo shot after ripping an RBI double in the second. Vientos has started five of the last seven games -- three at DH and two at third base -- and he figures to keep a near-everyday role after Tuesday's trade deadline, especially if the Mets ship out players like Tommy Pham and Mark Canha. Vientos is earning that playing time, hitting .333 (7-for-21) since his most recent promotion with two doubles and a homer, but his 1:7 BB:K over that seven-game stretch suggests his batting average will fade even if his power is legit.

Buxton went 3-for-3 with three doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Royals.

He was also hit by a pitch. Buxton clawed his way back over the Mendoza Line with the performance, but his .206/.295/.436 slash line remains far below expectations. The 29-year-old also has yet to play a game in the field in 2023, making all his starts at DH, and it's fair to wonder if his surgically repaired right knee has ever been 100 percent healthy in 2023.

Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs scored Saturday against the Rays.

Alvarez's home run came off backup catcher Rene Pinto, though he was having a productive game before his 18th long ball of the season. He has at least one hit in all three games since returning from the injured list and is showing no lingering effects of the oblique issue that cost him 39 games. When healthy, Alvarez has maintained an impressive .418 wOBA and 172 wRC+ across 255 plate appearances on the season.