MLB Player News

Melendez went 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI during the Mets' 9-7 extra-inning win over the Marlins on Friday.

Melendez didn't start Friday's game but came in to pinch hit in the seventh inning, when his flyball to left field was enough to bring Bo Bichette home. Melendez made a bigger impact in the 10th frame, when he took Pete Fairbanks deep for a two-run, walk-off home run. Melendez entered the game having gone 2-for-35 with 16 strikeouts over his last 18 outings, but perhaps his big night against Miami will be enough to spark a turnaround at the plate.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI during the Rays' 8-5 win over the Angels on Friday.

Diaz put the Rays on the board early, taking the second pitch he saw from Walbert Urena deep to right field for a leadoff home run. Diaz proceeded to kick-start the Rays' seven-run seventh inning with a two-run blast, marking his first multi-homer game since Aug. 2 against the Dodgers. He's up to 10 home runs on the season, six of which have come in 21 games since May 1. Diaz's .313 batting average leads the American League, and he also ranks sixth in the AL in OBP (.392) and seventh in both slugging percentage (.523) and hits (61) across 222 plate appearances.

Melendez is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Marlins.

After getting off to a hot start for the Mets, Melendez is just 2-for-35 across his last 18 games. The Mets will go with Jared Young at designated hitter against Marlins right-hander Max Meyer.

The Cardinals optioned Pozo to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Pozo has played sparingly this season as the team's third catcher, going 8-for-33 at the plate. His spot on the roster is being filled by Jimmy Crooks.

Ozuna isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Ozuna will retreat to the bench Thursday after going just 2-for-13 with an RBI and six strikeouts through the first three games of the series. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter in Ozuna's stead, opening up left field for Jhostynxon Garcia.

Soler revealed Wednesday that he's able to run only at 60-to-70 percent due to a groin injury that popped up "a few days ago," Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The injury cost the Angels on Wednesday, as Soler was forced out at second base in the second inning on a play he normally would've beaten out had he been healthy. Soler is back in the Angels' lineup Thursday in Detroit, and manager Kurt Suzuki indicated he has no plans to rest the designated hitter, noting of Soler's injury that "there's always these things you go through." The 34-year-old has exactly one hit in each of his last seven starts, though six of those hits have been singles.

Yoshida is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com

Yoshida will sit out of Thursday's lineup since left-hander Chris Sale is taking the mound for Atlanta. Boston will opt to go with Andruw Monasterio as the DH, batting fifth. Yoshida has only recorded 16 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season and has a .200/.250/.333 slash line in that split.

Ohtani (5-2) allowed one run on zero hits, four walks and a hit batsman while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Rockies. He also went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the 4-1 victory.

Ohtani was actually a little shaky with his command, throwing just 56 of 99 pitches for strikes. The Rockies were able to take advantage for one run in the fourth inning but ultimately didn't get a hit off the two-way superstar. Ohtani may have been bothered a bit by the hit-by-pitch he suffered Tuesday, though it wasn't enough to cause him to be scratched from the lineup or his start. On the mound this season, he continues an elite campaign that has seen him pitch to a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 61:17 K:BB over 55 innings through nine starts, including just three runs allowed on 11 hits, eight walks and two hit batsmen over 25 innings in May. He's also 18-for-47 (.383) with three homers and 14 RBI over his last 13 contests, and he's up to a .269/.400/.482 slash line with nine homers, 30 RBI, 36 runs scored and six stolen bases over 55 games. Ohtani's next pitching start is projected to be at Arizona.

Pederson went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and a third run scored in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Astros.

Pederson and opposing designated hitter Yordan Alvarez stole the show, each hitting two homers in the contest. Pederson has gone 10-for-23 (.435) with three homers and six RBI over his last eight games. He's now batting .250 with a .791 OPS, six long balls, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored, five doubles and no stolen bases over 51 contests this season. The 34-year-old should continue to fill a strong-side platoon role at DH while routinely hitting leadoff when in the lineup.

Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs and a walk in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.

Alvarez has feasted on Texas pitching in this series, going 6-for-12 with five homers and eight RBI over the last three games. He's recorded his two multi-homer games of the year over the last two contests and is up to 20 long balls on the year. The slugger is batting .312 with a 1.085 OPS, 39 RBI, 36 runs scored, one stolen base and 11 doubles across 56 games in what has started out as an MVP-caliber season.