MLB Player News

Ohtani is absent from the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game in St. Louis.

It's a rare day off for the two-way superstar. Ohtani is slated to serve as the starting pitcher Wednesday and presumably will be in the lineup at designated hitter, as well.

Ford sports a .337/.439/.730 slash line with 16 extra-base hits and 39 RBI across 107 plate appearances over 24 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

The 30-year-old has struggled with big-league arms after an encouraging initial 50-game cup of coffee with the Yankees back in 2019, when he posted a .259 average and .909 OPS across 163 plate appearances. However, Ford has been a terror with the Rainiers during his stints with them over the last two seasons, and his aforementioned impressive 2023 numbers are accompanied by a 14.0 percent walk rate and minuscule 11.2 percent strikeout rate. Ford's age and the fact he's been almost exclusively limited to playing first base and filling the designated hitter role throughout his long professional career dampens his overall prospects, but he could potentially get another crack at the majors at some point this season if he continues his current offensive tear down on the farm.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Astros.

Pederson's first home run since April 3 gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the third. He continues to periodically sit out versus lefties and missed a two-week stretch due to a wrist injury, but his .255/.354/.509 slash line through 17 games is encouraging. During his first season with San Francisco last year, Pederson slashed .274/.353/.521 with 23 homers and 70 RBI across 134 games.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed that Harper (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Thomson said that he wanted to give Harper off for Monday's series opener in Los Angeles because of a hectic schedule that included a doctor's appointment, but the two-time National League MVP will be ready to make his season debut 160 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The Phillies could give Harper a day off or two in his first couple weeks back in action since he didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment and is returning from surgery sooner than anticipated, but he should otherwise be a mainstay in the lineup at designated hitter beginning with Tuesday's contest. Harper began working out at first base a few weeks ago and could eventually be an option at that position, but playing the outfield is most likely off the table for him in 2023.

Martinez (back) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list during the Dodgers' upcoming weekend series against the Padres, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Martinez is eligible to come off the 10-day IL beginning Friday in San Diego, but skipper Dave Roberts noted Monday that he expects the slugger to need at least a few extra days before being activated. If all goes well over the next week, Martinez could be ready to return to the starting lineup for the team's series against the Brewers, which is scheduled to begin May 8.

Carpenter is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth for the Padres in Monday's game against the Reds, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Carpenter has been swinging a hot bat, going 8-for-17 with two home runs and 10 RBI over his last seven contests. It's been a pretty strict platoon between Carpenter and Nelson Cruz at DH for the Padres, with Carpenter also seeing the occasional start at first base.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in a 3-0 win against the Brewers.

Ohtani went deep in the third inning, launching an absolute moonshot that landed 413 feet away from home plate and travelled 162 feet high, per David Adler of MLB.com. The long ball was the two-way star's seventh of the campaign and extended his hitting streak to five games. Over that span, Ohtani has been red hot, slashing .455/.478/.864 with two homers, five RBI, four runs and two stolen bases.

Harper (elbow) has been medically cleared and is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, when he'll likely serve as the Phillies' designated hitter against the Dodgers, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Harper visited with Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- the physician who performed his Tommy John surgery Nov. 23 -- on Monday and was officially given the green light to return to game action in a non-defensive role. Even for a position player, Harper's recovery from Tommy John surgery has been remarkably quick, as he had initially been projected to be out until around the All-Star break. Harper has been working out at first base in the event the Phillies want to ease him into the field at that position, though it'll probably be a while before he's anything other than a DH. While Harper's bat could be a little rusty following a long layoff and no rehab assignment, fantasy managers and the Phillies will certainly welcome the slugger back into their lineups.

Carpenter went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Giants in Mexico City.

After sitting against lefty Sean Manaea on Saturday in the first contest of the two-game set in Mexico City, Carpenter drew back into the starting nine Sunday while Ha-Seong Kim received the day off. Carpenter proceeded to help the Padres complete their comeback from an early 4-0 deficit, with his two-run double in the bottom of the eighth breaking a tie and effectively serving as the game-winning hit. He concluded April with a seven extra-base hits (two home runs, five doubles) and 10 RBI in his final seven games of the month.

Canha is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader with Atlanta.

Canha will get a breather as the Mets gear up to play two games Monday, heading to the bench after he went 0-for-2 in the first game of the series. Jeff McNeil will start in left field while Luis Guillorme enters the lineup at second base and bats eighth.