MLB Player News

Blackmon went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs in a 7-4 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Blackmon had a big night at the plate, frequently passing the baton to his teammates by getting on base nearly every time up. His double off Yency Almonte was his eighth of the year. The 35-year-old outfielder has been playing well in June, slashing .311/.339/.534 with five home runs during the month.

Choi (ankle) will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi missed only one game on account of left ankle pain, which he experienced while running the bases in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Pirates. Monday's team off day along with his absence from the lineup for Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee appears to have provided Choi with enough time to move past the injury. The Rays' decision to deploy Choi at first base rather than designated hitter suggests the ankle issue won't compromise him while moving laterally in the field.

Alvarez went 3-for-3 with two walks, a two-run home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Mets.

Alvarez returned from a one-game absence caused by a minor nagging hand injury. He looked healthy at the plate, first singling in the opening inning. Four frames later, he launched his 23rd home of the season and sixth in his last eight starts. Alvarez has had an incredible campaign through 66 games, maintaining a .453 wOBA and 205 wRC+.

Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the White Sox.

Ohtani feasted on White Sox starter Johnny Cueto, posting a first-inning double and a solo shot in the third before drawing a walk in the fifth. This was the two-way star's third three-hit game in June, and he's swatted four homers in his last seven contests. Overall, the 27-year-old is slashing .268/.351/.511 with 17 long balls, 49 RBI, 46 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 15 doubles through 74 games. He's set to start on the mound in Wednesday's series finale against the Pale Hose, and he enters that game having allowed just one run in 21 innings across his last three turns through the rotation.

Buxton went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in a 6-0 win over the Guardians during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

After striking out as a pinch hitter in the matinee, Buxton was back in center field and his usual leadoff spot for the nightcap. The 28-year-old superstar took Anthony Castro deep in the ninth inning to wrap up the scoring for the Twins, giving Buxton nine homers in June and 20 for the year -- and establishing a new career high in the process. He's also batting .297 (22-for-74) on the month, raising his slash line on the season to .236/.315/.585.

Belt is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

Belt is 5-for-26 in 11 games since returning from the injured list June 14, and he'll take a seat Tuesday with lefty Tarik Skubal pitching for Detroit. Darin Ruf will start at first base for San Francisco.

Choi is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers due to pain in his left ankle, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The injury explains why the lefty-hitting Choi is on the bench for the series opener with the Brewers, despite right-hander Brandon Woodruff toeing the rubber for Milwaukee. According to Topkin, Choi, who tweaked the ankle while running the bases in Sunday's win over the Pirates, expects to return to the lineup within the next couple of days.

Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said Harper will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair his fractured left thumb, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Thomson declined to put a timeline on Harper's recovery from surgery, but Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported earlier Tuesday that the two-time National League MVP could be back from the 10-day injured list in as few as six weeks. A mid-August return may be on the more ambitious side, however, and the possibility exists that the Phillies could delay activating Harper if the team finds itself out of contention by late summer. Before he fractured the thumb Sunday when it was hit by a pitch, Harper had been playing through a small tear in the UCL of his right (throwing) elbow, which had prevented him from playing the outfield since April 16. If there's a positive side to Harper being shut down following thumb surgery, it's that it'll afford him more time to heal from the elbow injury.

Madris is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.

With southpaw Patrick Corbin on the bump for Washington, the lefty-hitting Madris will give way to the right-hitting Diego Castillo in right field. Through his first seven big-league starts, Madris has recorded a hit in all but one game while slashing .345/.345/.586 with a home run, four doubles, six RBI, five runs and a stolen base.

Vogelbach will sit against lefty Patrick Corbin and the Pirates on Tuesday.

Vogelbach has had stretches as more than a platoon player this season, but he's now been on the bench against four of the last five southpaws the Pirates have faced. His .111/.231/.133 line in 52 plate appearances against lefties this year suggests he probably shouldn't be facing same-sided pitching very often. Josh VanMeter will be the designated hitter Tuesday.