MLB Player News

Ohtani (3-0) earned the win Friday, as he didn't allow a run on two hits and two walks over seven innings against the Royals. He struck out 11.

Ohtani dazzled Friday, punching out a season-high 11 while lowering his ERA to 0.64 and his WHIP to 0.82. The two-way star has posted incredible numbers as a pitcher this season, but opposing lineups will get tougher down the road as he has faced the A's, Royals and Nationals in three of his first five starts. That's a worry for later, though -- his next start is currently scheduled to be a rematch with Oakland.

Meneses went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's victory over the Twins.

Meneses was excellent in 2022, slugging 13 home runs and batting .324 in 56 games, but 2023 has been a major letdown so far for the 30-year-old. He finally hit his first home run Friday, as his seventh-inning solo shot started a Washington comeback. The first baseman is hitting .227 (17-for-75) in 18 games.

Carpenter is out of the lineup Friday versus the Diamondbacks.

Nelson Cruz is serving as the Padres' designated hitter and batting sixth against the Diamondbacks and right-hander Zac Gallen. Carpenter homered and scored two runs in Thursday's series opener but holds a disappointing .167/.348/.361 overall slash line for the year.

Rooker (hamstring) is back in the Athletics' lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers, Jessica Kleinschmidt of The Comeback reports.

It will be his first time playing since he was lifted from Tuesday's contest versus the Cubs with a hamstring issue. Rooker is in the designated hitter spot and batting third against Jon Gray.

Ozuna isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Friday's game against Houston, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

A .083/.200/.229 slash line to start the year will send Ozuna to the bench for the second consecutive game. Eddie Rosario will take over as Atlanta's designated hitter, and Kevin Pillar will start in left field and bat ninth.

Reyes was placed on the paternity leave list by the Royals on Friday.

Reyes can be away from the club for up to three days while he tends to much more important matters. The Royals will likely rotate some players through the designated hitter spot over the weekend while Reyes is away.

Harper (elbow) could return at designated hitter for the Phillies as soon as the first weekend of May, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper will be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- who performed his Tommy John surgery last November -- in Los Angeles while the Phillies are there for a series against the Dodgers at the beginning of May. The team is prepared to have Harper skip a rehab assignment, so he could return shortly after the doctor visit if he gets the green light. "If we get clearance from the doctor, then we'll see when he can start DHing," manager Rob Thomson said Thursday. "But it shouldn't be too far after that." Harper played catch Thursday and has been working out at first base with the thought that he might be able to play that position sooner than right field. He's likely to be a DH only for a while though, and he is currently able to swing a bat without restrictions. The last potential hurdle to being able to DH is full-intensity slides, including dives back into first base on a pickoff attempt, because his reconstructed elbow is still at risk of rupturing. Harper returning in early May or shortly after would mean making it back less than six months after surgery and more than two months before the initial All-Star break timeline the Phillies established the day of the operation.

Carpenter went 1-for-1 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

The former Cardinal and Yankee turned in a quality performance before being subbed out for Nelson Cruz. Carpenter still has some work to do to become a reliable fantasy option, as he's slashing just .167/.348/.361 through Thursday's games. He continues to serve as the strong side of a DH platoon with Cruz.

Harper (elbow) made throws from 60 feet Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper also took batting practice and incorporated the pitch clock for the first time. One of his BP homers nearly hit the screen displaying the count well beyond the center field fence at Citizens Bank Park. There's still no exact timetable, but Harper continues to push toward a swift return from Tommy John surgery. Word from Phillies manager Rob Thomson is that the 30-year-old slugger will be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment and jump right back in as the team's everyday DH whenever doctors clear him for live action. He's been getting reps at first base in recent workouts, though that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be immediately be seeing game reps at the position.

Blackmon is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Phillies.

Elehuris Montero is batting sixth as the designated hitter against the Phillies and left-hander Matt Strahm. Ryan McMahon will handle third base and hit third.