MLB Player News

Harper (elbow) took batting practice on the field before Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

It's a positive step for Harper as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery he underwent in November. Matt Gelb of The Athletic cautions that Harper still has several hurdles to clear before being deemed ready for game action, as he has yet to be cleared to slide into bases since doctors believe there's still some risk of him rupturing the surgically-repaired elbow. Harper could be back from the 10-day injured list as soon as the latter part of May, as the Phillies' decision not to put him on the 60-day IL to begin the season had already implied.

Cabrera will sit Wednesday versus the Astros.

As expected, Cabrera will retreat to the bench Wednesday after he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Tuesday's victory. Kerry Carpenter will take over at designated hitter while Matt Vierling enters the lineup in right field and bats third in the series finale.

The White Sox placed Jimenez on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a low-grade left hamstring strain. He's expected to miss 2-to-3 weeks, according to James Fegan of The Athletic.

Jimenez picked up the injury late in Monday's 12-3 loss to the Giants. The hamstring strain is the latest in a growing list of injuries that have derailed the 26-year-old thus far in his young career, but based on Fegan's report, Jimenez doesn't look as though he'll be headed for an extended absence. Chicago recalled infielder Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move, but Gavin Sheets is the most likely player to benefit from a playing-time perspective while Jimenez is out of the lineup.

Stanton is not in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Phillies, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Stanton will get a day off after he started each of New York's first five games of the campaign, going 4-for-20 with two homers, four RBI and three runs scored over those contests. The 33-year-old has been making sound contact at the plate this season, producing an average exit velocity of 95.0 mph, ranking him third in the majors behind Aaron Judge and Yordan Alvarez. In his place Wednesday, Gleyber Torres will take over at designated hitter while Josh Donaldson starts at third base after some shuffling and bats fifth versus Philadelphia.

Reyes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

The Royals' offense has been poor to begin 2023, and Reyes hasn't been immune from those struggles. His second-inning solo shot was his first hit of the season, and one of just four in Tuesday's game for the home team. The 27-year-old slugged 44 homers over the last two seasons, so he should provide some pop if he can work out of his 1-for-10 slump to start the campaign.

Blackmon isn't in the Rockies' lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

After going 7-for-20 from the plate with a home run and three RBI over his first five games, Blackmon will get a day off to rest. Elehuris Montero will fill in as the Rockies' DH, allowing Alan Trejo to get reps in the hot corner and bat eighth.

Belt isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.

After starting the season just 1-for-11 at the plate through three games, Belt will take a seat Friday for the second time in three days. George Springer will take over as Toronto's designated hitter, opening up right field for Whit Merrifield and allowing Santiago Espinal to get reps at second base, batting eighth.

Ozuna is absent from Atlanta's starting lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Kevin Pillar is in left field and batting ninth versus the Cardinals and left-hander Steven Matz, with Travis d'Arnaud handling DH duties and hitting cleanup. Ozuna slugged a solo homer Saturday against the Nationals, but it's his only hit through 16 plate appearances this season.

Buxton is not in the Twins' lineup for Tuesday's game in Miami.

It looks to be a routine day off for Buxton, who had started each of the Twins' first four games this season in the designated hitter spot. Solano will be the DH on Tuesday, while Michael Taylor will again handle center field.

Carpenter is starting at first base and batting sixth for the Padres in Tuesday's game versus the Diamondbacks.

Manager Bob Melvin has stuck to a true platoon with Carpenter and Nelson Cruz to this point, giving Carpenter four starts against righties and Cruz two starts versus lefties. This is Carpenter's first start at first base, as Jake Cronenworth will slide to second, Ha-Seong Kim will play third and Manny Machado will be the designated hitter.