MLB Player News

Astros left fielder Chris Carter doubled for the first time this season Thursday in his team's loss to the Red Sox, going 1 for 4 as Houston's designated hitter. Carter entered the game with five home runs and even a triple.

Carter has a modest four-game hitting streak and a .222 batting average. He also struck out twice to give him a league-worst 37 strikeouts this season.

The Indians have been pleased with catcher Carlos Santana's defensive progress, but they believe he has plenty of room to grow.

"He's had a hot start offensively," Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. told MLB.com. "I think he's still working behind the plate. I mean, he's still further ahead offensively than defensively, but he's doing the job, and he's taking more pride in his defense."

Santana said his communication with pitchers is also improving.

"In the years before, I tried to talk to them, but I was a little shy," Santana said. "But this year I feel comfortable, and the pitchers will come to me when I'm playing."

Part of the reason for his communication struggles has been his limited English, but it appears that's becoming less of a concern.

"That's been a big turnaround for him," Alomar said. "When it comes to getting everything better, from a catching point of view, and for the pitchers, you have to have good communication. His language has to get better in order for him to do that. That will open up a whole world of possibilities. If you restrict yourself with communicating, it's going to be hard for you to improve behind the plate. That's a big key for him, and he's doing much better with that."

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was scratched from Wednesday's lineup at Chicago White Sox because of right quadriceps soreness. Cabrera sustained the injury on a stolen-base attempt in the eighth inning Monday.

Mike Aviles started at shortstop in Cabrera's absence. Cabrera has hit safely in his last four games, batting .308 (4 for 13) with one double and two RBI.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana was scratched from Wednesday's lineup at Chicago White Sox because he's been under the weather the last two days. Lou Marson came off the disabled list to start at catcher for Cleveland.

Santana is batting .286 (6 for 21) with two home runs, three doubles and four RBI in his last five games. He is day to day.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who returned to the lineup after missing one game with a wrist injury, drove in two runs in a 3-2 win over the White Sox. 

Cabrera plated two of the three runs the Tribe scored with a two-run single to center in the eighth inning. Batting third, Cabrera went 1 for 4 and added his first stolen base of the year. 

Cabrera has a hit in four straight games but is still batting just .156. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the starting lineup Monday at Chicago White Sox after missing his first start of the season Sunday with a left wrist contusion. Cabrera, who has yet to record a multi-hit game, is batting .150 (9 for 60) through 16 games.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is out of the lineup Sunday against Houston, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. 

Cabrera fell on his left wrist in the dugout before Saturday's game against Houston and was removed from the game for precautionary reasons after two at-bats. The official diagnosis is a "mild left wrist contusion" and he isn't expected to be out for long.

With Fernando Martinez coming off the disabled list and getting the start in left field Sunday against Cleveland, Astros outfielder Chris Carter got the game off. Carter is struggling at the dish and has gone just 1 for 19 (.053) over his last six contests. 

Carter, batting .219 overall on the year, has struck out 26 times in 17 games, though he does have four homers and nine RBI. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera injured his left wrist when he slipped down the dugout steps before Saturday's game against the Astros, The Plain Dealer reports.

The 27-year-old was forced from the game in the first inning after two at-bats. X-rays came back negative, but Cabrera is not expected to play in Sunday's series finale.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana went 2 for 5 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored Saturday night against the Astros. Santana also walked once in the 19-6 win.

The 27-year-old led off the third inning with his third homer, and in the fifth, he drove in Mike Aviles with a double.

Santana is 4 for 19 (.211) with three RBI in six games since returning from a wrist injury.