MLB Player News
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Cleared for first pitching start
The Dodgers announced that Ohtani (elbow) will serve as the team's starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Padres.
For the first time since making his last appearance as a pitcher with the Angels on Aug. 23, 2023 before undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery less than a month later, Ohtani will step back on an MLB mound. The Dodgers initially planned to have Ohtani throw at least one more simulated game this week before potentially clearing him to serve as a two-way player, but the right-hander reportedly pushed to resume pitching in MLB games, and the front office and medical staffs were comfortable honoring the request, per DodgerBlue.com. Though Ohtani tossed 44 pitches over three innings in his most recent sim game this past Monday, manager Dave Roberts said that the 30-year-old will operate as an opener in his first start, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. With that in mind, Ohtani might be limited to 1-to-2 innings Monday, and he'll likely be built up gradually over the course of multiple outings before he's capable of handling a traditional starter's workload. In the meantime, Ohtani will continue to serve as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter on his non-pitching days. He closed out the weekend on a high note, going 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Giants.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Set for pitching debut this week
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday's 5-4 win over the Giants that it's a "high possibility" that Ohtani (elbow) makes his Dodgers debut as a pitcher during the team's upcoming four-game series against the Padres that begins Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Ohtani served as the Dodgers' designated hitter Sunday and went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs.
Earlier Sunday, Roberts told Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register that Ohtani would throw another live batting practice session this week before potentially pitching in a game, but the skipper has apparently seen enough from the 30-year-old to turn him loose. Ohtani's last appearance as a pitcher came in August 2023 with the Angels before he underwent Tommy John surgery a month later, but he's finally ready to be a two-way player again. Considering that Ohtani built up to 44 pitches in his most recent live BP outing, he won't be stretched out enough to serve as a traditional starter, so he's expected to operate as more of an opener at first. Ohtani is likely to get gradually stretched out over a series of appearances before he would be able to handle a five-inning workload.
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Rafael Devers 3B | SF
Giants' Rafael Devers: Headed to San Francisco
Devers was traded to the Giants on Sunday in return for right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, lefty starter Kyle Harrison, minor-league outfielder James Tibbs and minor-league reliever Jose Bello, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Devers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Yankees, which will ultimately be his final one in a Boston uniform. The 28-year-old's displeasure with the organization has been well-chronicled this year, and he will now get a fresh start in San Francisco. Devers is batting .272 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 47 runs scored and a stolen base over 272 at-bats through 73 games this season. His 15 home runs on the year are one higher than the Giants' team total of 14 long balls from lefty bats this year, so he'll address an obvious need for his new squad. It's unclear if Devers will return to the field at third base with the Giants or not, especially considering Matt Chapman (hand) occupies that role when healthy.
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Christian Yelich LF | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: Knocks homer, three hits in win
Yelich went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and a double in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.
The former MVP notched his first homer of June when he tied the contest at 1-1 with a 390-foot shot off St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas in the fourth inning. Yelich entered this game on a cold spell, slashing just .222/.333/.306 across 42 plate appearances this month while serving as the primary designated hitter for Milwaukee. The 33-year-old now sports a .239/.323/.427 slash line overall with 14 homers, 10 steals, 43 RBI and 35 runs scored through 288 plate appearances.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Closing in on pitching debut
Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani (elbow) will throw another live batting practice session early this week, which may "potentially" be the right-hander's final live throwing session before he makes his Dodgers debut as a pitcher, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Ohtani -- who remains in the lineup at designated hitter and as the Dodgers' leadoff batter in Sunday's game against the Giants -- built up to 44 pitches and three innings in his most recent live BP outing Tuesday, per MLB.com. He'll likely be targeting around 50 or 55 pitches in his upcoming throwing session, and if all goes well, Ohtani may finally be given the green light to operate as a two-way player for the first time since Aug. 23, 2023, when he made his last appearance as a pitcher for the Angels before undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery just under a month later. Because Ohtani won't be fully stretched out for a traditional starter's workload by the time he's cleared to make his debut on the mound, Roberts said that the 30-year-old will initially be used as a multi-inning opener in bullpen games and will gradually build up his pitch counts.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Season debut imminent
Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Stanton (elbows) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut Monday or Tuesday against the Angels, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
After the veteran slugger went 3-for-11 with a double and four RBI in three rehab games with Double-A Somerset, he rejoined the big club Sunday for a workout at Yankee Stadium. Stanton has been on the shelf all season due to a severe case of tendinitis in both elbows, but he's finally on the cusp of his 2025 MLB debut.
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Jahmai Jones 2B | DET
Tigers' Jahmai Jones: Hits second home run Sunday
Jones went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Reds.
Jones, who has become Detroit's primary leadoff option against left-handed pitching, now has two home runs -- both of which have come against southpaws -- this season in 14 at-bats. Over the past three years, the outfielder has a 1.031 OPS against lefties, albeit in a limited sample. Jones may not play much against righties moving forward, which caps his overall fantasy value, but he looks like an emerging weapon against southpaws who can be used in DFS formats in the right matchups.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Getting afternoon off
McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
McCutchen will get a chance to catch his breath after starting eight straight games. Alexander Canario will pick up a start in right field while Bryan Reynolds occupies McCutchen's usual spot at designated hitter.
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Starling Marte DH | NYM
Mets' Starling Marte: On bench Sunday
Marte is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Marte has been a lineup regular of late and has an .865 OPS through 11 games in June, but he'll take a seat Sunday. Francisco Lindor is resting his legs as the designated hitter while Luisangel Acuna receives a start at shortstop.
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Yandy Diaz 1B | TB
Rays' Yandy Diaz: Picking up rest Sunday
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Diaz appeared to be in some discomfort after a slide into home plate in Saturday's 8-4 win, but he wasn't removed from the game at any point, and manager Kevin Cash said that the 33-year-old is "totally available" off the bench Sunday, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Diaz's absence thus looks to be little more than a pre-planned rest day after he had started each of the Rays' last seven games. He's been on a heater of late, slashing .408/.473/.673 with three home runs, 10 RBI and nine runs in 12 games dating back to May 31.