MLB Player News

Lewis (knee) will begin baseball activities in 3-to-4 days, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

He will begin by hitting in the cage and would then progress to running after a few days. It sounds like Lewis could come off the injured list in mid-to-late April. In the meantime, Taylor Trammell and Jake Fraley are playing center and left field, respectively, with Mitch Haniger handling right field for Seattle.

Belt is not in Friday's lineup against the Mariners, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

He got the start Thursday against a lefty but will head to the bench with another lefty (Yusei Kikuchi) on the mound. Belt went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in the opener. Wilmer Flores will start at first base and bat sixth.

Dickerson is not in Friday's lineup against the Mariners, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

He will head to the bench for the second game in a row with a southpaw (Yusei Kikuchi) toeing the rubber for Seattle. Dickerson homered off the bench Thursday and should start Saturday's game with righty Chris Flexen starting for the Mariners. In the meantime, Austin Slater draws another leadoff start in left.

Dickerson hit a solo home run in his only at-bat in Thursday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Dickerson pinch hit for Austin Slater in the ninth inning. The move worked, as Dickerson's homer tied the game at 7-7, forcing an extra inning. The 30-year-old outfielder hit 10 homers and slashed .298/.371/.576 in 52 games last season as a near-everyday presence in the Giants' lineup. He figures to work the strong side of a platoon in left field, while Slater will often start against southpaws.

Choi (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined 4-5 weeks, so it was only a matter of time before he landed on the shelf. Yoshi Tsutsugo and Yandy Diaz could platoon at first base for the Rays in the meantime, while Choi looks at a potential return in early or mid-May.

Brantley went 3-for-4 with a solo homer while scoring twice in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.

Brantley smashed a solo shot in the eighth inning following his single and double earlier in the game. The 33-year-old has been nothing but productive since coming to Houston, and that appears likely to continue this season.

Alvarez went 1-for-3 with three RBI in Thursday's victory over the Athletics.

Alvarez's return was much anticipated, given that the 2019 Rookie of the Year only recorded eight at-bats in 2020 while dealing with injuries. Alvarez picked up where he left off his first campaign with a huge double that was just shy of clearing the fence in the sixth inning to knock in two. He later recorded a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. The Astros are certainly happy to have the 23-year-old's potential pop return to an already explosive lineup.

Soler went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, two RBI, a pair of walks and two runs scored during Thursday's Opening Day win over the Rangers.

Coming off an oblique injury that derailed most of his 2020 season, Soler sprung out with a solid start against Texas, reaching base in each at-bat. The 29-year-old added an exclamation point by evening the score at 8-8 with a solo home run against Kyle Cody in the fourth inning. After a 48-homer campaign in 2019, Soler scuffled to a .228/.326/.443 line last year, but he's a prime candidate to bounce back this season.

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and two walks during Thursday's extra-inning loss against the Brewers.

Buxton launched his first homer of the season in the seventh inning against Eric Yardley, but he also reached base in three of his five plate appearances. The talented outfielder has launched double-digit homers in each of the last four seasons in which he played at least 50 percent of the games, and he's certainly off to a good start to 2021. There are few questions about the tools here; the key for Buxton will be staying healthy.

Ohtani will serve as the team's designated hitter Friday and could Saturday as well, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's status was uncertain after he dealt with a blister earlier in the week, but he's in the Opening Day lineup and appears headed for a full workload. In addition to his DH duties, Ohtani is slated to make his debut on the mound Sunday, and he won't have a pitch limit despite not being fully stretched out.