Dave Roberts wants to see Shohei Ohtani show more plate discipline with runners in scoring position.

The Los Angeles Dodgers manager approached Ohtani about a week ago to discuss how he could better control the strike zone.

"I thought he was expanding a little bit more than he needed to," Roberts said. "So, I just wanted to have a conversation with him."

Roberts has noticed Ohtani getting comfortable in his surroundings, acclimating with his new teammates and coaches.

"He is doing a great job with everyone," Roberts said. "The hitting coaches are kind of building a really good relationship and trust. I see him more [now]. Before you sort of just see him when he gets in the batter's box. So, he's around a lot more, which is a good thing, too."

The Miami Marlins will move A.J. Puk back to the bullpen once he's healthy.

Puk began the season in the starting rotation before he landed on the injured list due to shoulder fatigue.

Through four starts, Puk allowed 14 runs over 13 2/3 innings. He had 12 strikeouts but issued 17 walks.

The Colorado Rockies have signed Tyler Danish to a Minor League deal.

The right-hander has been assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Danish had just signed with the Mexican League's Olmecas de Tabasco last week. He started once, tossing six innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and two walks.

Chicago Cubs reliever Luke Little had to change his glove before he entered Wednesday night's 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros because of an American flag patch.

As the left-hander went through the usual check by umpires for pitchers coming into the game, he was told he had to swap out his glove.

"The issue was the American flag was on his glove," Craig Counsell said. "Pitchers' gloves, they're pretty strict about not having white on the pitchers' gloves. Apparently the flag had what could be a distraction to the hitter."

Little's replacement glove wasn't broken in.

"I had to beat it a little bit, try and get it flexed out," Little said. "Of all the things to do is breaking in a glove during a game."

He struck out one batter in 2/3 innings pitched.

Max Scherzer is set to make a Minor League rehab start Wednesday, which will be the first game action for the 39-year-old since back surgery during the offseason.

Scherzer is scheduled to start for Triple-A Round Rock at home against Salt Lake, the Los Angeles Angels' affiliate.

The plan is to throw about 50 pitches. The right-hander threw 40 pitches in a simulated game Friday.

Scherzer had surgery Dec. 15 to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. 

Johnny Cueto has signed a Minor League deal with the Texas Rangers.

Cueto, 38, wants to pitch in his 17th Major League season.

The right-hander made 13 appearances (10 starts) for the Miami Marlins last season and 25 appearances (24 starts) for the Chicago White Sox in 2022. He finished the last of his six seasons with the San Francisco Giants in 2021.

Cueto is expected to report to the club's training complex in Surprise, Arizona.

Hitting leadoff for the first time since 2020, Mike Trout homered off Grayson Rodriguez in the Los Angeles Angels' 7-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

It was the sixth leadoff homer of Trout's career and first since Sept. 28, 2012.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 11 years and 208 days is the second-longest span between consecutive leadoff homers in MLB history.

The longest is 12 years, 286 days by Omar Vizquel.

Trout's nine home runs this season is tied with Marcell Ozuna for the Major League lead

Ranger Suarez pitched seven scoreless innings for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

Suarez has thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings going back to the fourth inning on April 6 against the Washington Nationals.

It is the longest streak by a Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee threw 30 2/3 scoreless innings from Aug. 17–Sept. 10, 2011.

"I've never had a really good fastball, so today I felt how I've always felt,” Suarez said. "As always, I tried to mix all my pitches, especially my changeup and curveball. I don't throw hard. So those are things I have to do to get outs."

Suarez is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 33 innings this season.

Mike Trout took a called third strike for the final out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.

"I knew what he was going to throw me," Trout said. "They were throwing me the same stuff the whole game. I've gotta come through. I just didn't. … After [Craig Kimbrel] threw one up … that's where he pitches, he pitches up, he has that rising fastball … I've got to put the ball in play, you know, and come through."

It was similar in tone to the Angels' 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 14, when Trout struck out swinging with runners on second and third to seal the defeat.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have released Jace Peterson.

The move was expected after the Diamondbacks designated Peterson for assignment last week.

Arizona acquired Peterson in a mid-season trade with the Oakland Athletics last summer. The 33-year-old is still due what remains of this season's $5 million salary. The A's agreed to pay $2 million of that sum as part of last summer's trade, while Arizona is on the hook for the other $3 million.