MLB Player News

Martinez went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs in Wednesday's 10-1 win over the Athletics.

Even after slugging three long balls in his previous four games, Martinez is sitting on a somewhat suppressed total of eight home runs on the season, but fantasy managers have little reason to otherwise complain about the 34-year-old. Martinez, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts have formed arguably the most fearsome trio of hitters in the majors this season, with all taking batting averages north of .330 and on-base averages above .370 into Thursday's series finale. Martinez will serve as Boston's designated hitter and No. 3 batter Thursday, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Rangers.

Alvarez did his damage early, driving in a pair with a bases-loaded double. Though he hasn't homered in his last seven appearances -- a notable drought given that he has gone yard 17 times in 57 games to begin the campaign -- Alvarez has nine RBI and two runs scored in that span. Overall, Alvarez has maintained a 192 wRC+ and .434 wOBA across 241 plate appearances on the season.

Belt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Wednesday against the Royals.

Belt made his first start since May 21 after being sidelined by a knee injury. He went yard in his second plate appearance to lead off the fourth inning and record his fifth homer of the season. Belt has a .341 wOBA and 122 wRC+ across 125 plate appearances on the campaign.

Choi isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi started in the last three games and went 4-for-12 with a double, two RBI, a run, a walk and four strikeouts. However, Isaac Paredes will start at first base and bat fifth with left-hander Nestor Cortes on the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday.

Ruf is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ruf had started each of the Giants' last seven games at first base and went 6-for-25 with two home runs and two doubles over that stretch, but he'll retreat to the bench Wednesday with Brandon Belt making his return to the lineup after being activated from the 10-day injured list earlier this week. Belt is serving as a designated hitter Wednesday but should eventually settle back in as a full-time first baseman, which will likely result in the righty-hitting Ruf seeing most of his starts against left-handed pitching moving forward.

Blackmon went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Guardians on Tuesday.

The Rockies' leadoff man went yard for the 10th time this season -- and third in his past eight games -- to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh. The blast came off Guardians ace Shane Bieber and led to him being pulled from the game one batter later. The 35-year-old left-handed hitter is slashing .251/.307/.439 and should continue to benefit from hitting at or near the top of the order in Coors Field.

Martinez went 1-for-4 with solo home run and a walk during Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Athletics.

The veteran slugger had five homers through his first 50 appearances of the season, but he's found his power stroke of late with three long balls across his four games. Martinez ranks third in the league with a .345 batting average to go along with 22 doubles, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored.

Belt (knee) was activated from the 10-day injured list but isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt has been sidelined for more than three weeks due to inflammation in his right knee, but he'll rejoin the active roster ahead of Tuesday's matchup with Kansas City. The 34-year-old isn't starting with lefty Kris Bubic pitching for the Royals, but the first baseman should start Wednesday against righty Jonathan Heasley.

Vientos (knee) returned from Triple-A Syracuse's 7-day injured list Sunday and went 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the club's 10-1 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Vientos is back in action after missing a week and a half due to knee discomfort. The 2017 second-round pick is slashing .248/.331/.482 with eight home runs through his 160 plate appearances with Syracuse this season.

Winker is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.

Winker started the past 15 games and will head to the bench after posting a .655 OPS during that stretch. Dylan Moore will man left field while J.P. Crawford takes over the leadoff spot.