MLB Player News

Left fielder Michael Brantley had a big night in the Indians' 11-6 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday. The star outfielder went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs, four RBI and three runs scored. He also added his 14th stolen base of the year, as he completely filled up the box score.

The two dingers give Brantley 11 on the season. He popped a two-run shot in the fourth inning, and another two-run blast in the eighth.

Over his last 10 games, Brantley is batting .357 with three home runs and 10 RBI. He is also 14-for-15 in stolen base attempts overall this season.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha went 4 for 5 at the plate to help send the Athletics to a 5-4 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Canha also drove in two runs and scored three during the contest. Prior to Tuesday's win, Canha was hitting .300 with one home run and five RBI in his last 12 games.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley is back in action Monday against the host Red Sox after missing the Minnesota series with a sore shoulder.

Brantley was on a tear before being sidelined. He was batting .454 (15-for-33) in his previous eight games with seven runs and seven RBI.

The desire of Terry Francona to use top hitters Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis as designated hitters upon their return to the Indians has created a dilemma.

Brantley and Kipnis, both of whom have been sidelined with shoulder issues, should be ready to roll Monday in Boston. But only one, of course, can DH. That could result in Kipnis being pushed back to Tuesday, per MLB.com.

The former received a cortisone shot Friday and joined the club in Minneapolis on Saturday. Kipnis is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday.

"I don't even know if we'd activate [Kipnis] or not [Monday]," Francona said. "It's going to be close. He certainly can be activated, but he's not ready to play second. ... I think Kip's kind of chomping at the bit, which I don't blame him."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was held out of Sunday's lineup at Minnesota, reports MLB.com.

Brantley is dealing with a shoulder aliment, which also kept him out of Saturday's contest. He was replaced in left field by Mike Aviles, who will bat ninth.

As expected, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins. Brantley is dealing with a shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out for at least a couple of days.

Mike Aviles will handle left field duties for the Indians on Saturday.

Terry Francona has declared that Indians premier hitter Michael Brantley will only miss two or three games with a shoulder ailment.

An MRI revealed nothing serious. He could be back Sunday in Minnesota or Monday for the start of a three-game series in Boston.

"He's been playing through a lot," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "Hopefully, when something like this happens, maybe a couple days down helps the rest of his body, because he's found a way to be still so productive and so good, but I know it's probably been hard for him at times. He doesn't say anything. He doesn't like saying anything about it, nor is he going to. Maybe this will help him a little bit.

"It's hard to not have him for a couple or three days, but it's a heck of a lot better than not having him for a couple or three months."

A hot streak since the All-Star break has his slash line sweetened to .312/.388/.461.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has undergone an MRI on his left shoulder and is out of the lineup Friday night in Minnesota, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

It remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.

Brantley has been on a tear since the All-Star break. His hitless game Thursday ended a 15-for-29 stretch during which he scored seven runs and drove in six. He leads Cleveland with 63 RBI on the year.

The Tigers have announced that they have activated slugger Miguel Cabrera from the 15-day disabled list, per the Detroit Free Press. He is playing first base and batting third Friday in Houston.

Detroit must heat up in a hurry to claw its way back into the playoff chase and the addition of Cabrera should certainly help. He has been out since July 4 with a calf injury. The team opens a key weekend series Friday night in Houston.

Cabrera returns with a typically fine slash line of .350/.456/.578 and 54 RBI in 277 at-bats.

About the only slumping Blue Jays hitter awoke from his slumber Thursday in style. Ryan Goins had been 1-for-17 entering play against Oakland, but his three-run homer in the second inning off Jesse Chavez proved to be the game-winner.

The blast, which gave Toronto a 4-0 lead, was only his second since June 14.