MLB Player News

Martinez went 2-for-3 with two walks, a three-run home run and a second run scored in Monday's 11-2 win over the Rays.

His eighth-inning blast off 2020 teammate Chris Mazza came when the game was well in hand. Martinez has an extra-base in all four games to begin the season and has already racked up two homers and six RBI after managing a disappointing seven home runs and 27 RBI in 54 games last year.

Rooker started in left field and went 1-for-6 in Monday's win over Detroit.

It was curious that Rooker got a start in left field before Kyle Garlick, who initially beat him out for a reserve outfield spot in spring training. It was likely a spot start for Rooker, but there is a chance that he could platoon in left field with Jake Cave when Byron Buxton returns from an illness.

Stanton went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Monday's 7-0 win over Baltimore.

Stanton launched his first home run of the season in exciting fashion, drilling a 471-foot grand slam as part of a five-run fifth for the Yankees. He's now 1-for-12 on the season with four strikeouts.

Ohtani (ankle) will be available to hit off the bench Monday night against the Astros, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani reportedly wanted to be right back in the starting lineup for Monday's contest after suffering an ankle injury Sunday evening, but the Angels will keep him on the bench as a precaution. He could pinch hit for his club if needed, however.

Dickerson will not start Monday's game against the Padres.

Three of the Giants' first four games have come against lefties like Monday's starter Adrian Morejon. Dickerson has been on the bench in all three. Darin Ruf gets the nod in left field this time around.

Belt will hit the bench against lefty Adrian Morejon and the Padres on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt started against a southpaw on Opening Day but has now found himself on the bench against the last two lefties the Giants have faced. Wilmer Flores starts ahead of him at first base.

Pederson will not start Monday against the Brewers.

Pederson started against the first lefty the Cubs faced, getting the nod against Tyler Anderson on Saturday. He'll sit against another left-handed Anderson (Brett) on Monday, with Ian Happ sliding to left field and Jake Marisnick starting in center. Just how often Pederson finds himself starting against same-sided pitching this season remains to be seen.

Canha went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs in a loss to the Astros on Sunday.

Canha led off in each installment of the season-opening four-game set versus the Astros, hitting safely in three of those games and reaching safely in all of them. The veteran doesn't have the speed of a traditional leadoff hitter, but he more than makes up for it with a solid power stroke and a discerning eye at the plate that's led to double-digit walk rates each of the last two seasons.

Winker (illness) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates.

Winker will stick on the bench for a second straight game while he continues to recover from the illness that forced him out of Saturday's win over the Cardinals. Tyler Naquin will spell him in left field while serving as Cincinnati's leadoff hitter.

Buxton (illness) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

Manager Rocco Baldelli will give Buxton some additional time to recover after the outfielder exited in the third inning of Sunday's win over Milwaukee with a non-COVID-19-related illness. Assuming Buxton isn't dealing with anything more than a minor bug, he should be ready to rejoin the lineup at some point during the three-game series in Detroit. Jake Cave will cover center field in place of Buxton on Monday.