MLB Player News

Alvarez has sore legs and will not start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The designated hitter will still play Saturday before receiving a day off Sunday. Alvarez has hit well all season, but especially of late, having recorded at least two hits in six of his last nine games. Michael Brantley will be the designated hitter Sunday.

Brantley is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley will get a day to rest after being in the lineup for six consecutive days. Aledmys Diaz will bat second and take over in left field as the Astros take on Dane Dunning.

Choi was activated from the injured list Saturday, but he is not in the starting lineup, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi will be activated from the injured list for the first time this season, though he'll have to wait for his first start. That is likely to come Sunday with right-hander Marcus Stroman projected to be on the mound for the Mets. Yandy Diaz is starting at first base and batting third for the Rays on Saturday.

Choi (knee) is feeling better and is close to returning, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Choi has been sidelined for the entire season after undergoing a knee scope in late March. He's continued to deal with soreness while rehabbing, but he has apparently made enough progress that his return is now imminent.

Blackmon has a mild groin strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports

Blackmon was lifted for a pinch runner in the fourth inning of Friday's win over the Reds, but it is unclear how he sustained the injury. It's positive that the strain is considered only mild, though it could still cost Blackmon playing time going forward.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

He produced the Angels' first run in the top of the sixth inning as he swatted a Nick Pivetta offering over the Green Monster. Ohtani has slowed down somewhat at the plate, going 11-for-48 (.229) through 12 games in May, but he's still launched three of his 11 homers on the year during that stretch.

Pederson went 3-for-4 in Friday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.

All three knocks were singles, but it was still Pederson's fourth straight multi-hit performance. The hot streak has pushed the outfielder's slash line to .268/.354/.341 through 24 games, but he has only one homer, eight runs and nine RBI.

Harper went 2-for-2 with a double, three walks and a run scored in Friday's 5-1 win over Toronto.

Harper was very effective at the plate. His run came in the seventh inning, as he got aboard with a walk and scored on a Rhys Hoskins double. Harper has an excellent .318/.449/582 slash line with seven home runs, 11 RBI, 25 runs scored and four stolen bases in 31 games this season. He also avoided striking out Friday for the first time since April 25, a span of 10 contests.

Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two runs scored and two walks in Friday's 6-3 win over Milwaukee.

Ozuna and Ozzie Albies launched back-to-back solo homers in the fifth inning, extending Atlanta's lead to 4-1. It was Ozuna's sixth home run of the season. He improved his slash line to .216/.297/.358 on the year and seems to be finding his groove with five hits and two homers over his last four games.

Manager Aaron Boone said after Friday's game that Stanton (quad) could be "down a couple of days," but Boone isn't concerned about it being anything long-term, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Stanton was scratched from Friday's lineup with left quad tightness, which Stanton felt during an at-bat in Thursday's series finale in Tampa Bay and again during warmups Friday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com notes. It sounds like Stanton will need at least one more day, and with Aaron Hicks (wrist) also injured, the Yankees may need to make a roster move to add an outfielder ahead of Saturday's game.