MLB Player News

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.

Left fielder Michael Brantley was the walk-off hero for the Indians on Tuesday, as the defeated the Yankees 5-4 in extra innings. Brantley, who went 3 for 6 in the game, drove home the winning run with an RBI single in the 16th inning. It was Brantley's third career walk-off hit

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Miguel Cabrera is making progress from his calf injury and he could return for this weekend's series at Houston, reports MLive.com. Cabrera was able to take live batting practice and run the bases Tuesday.

"I thought he looked good," Ausmus said. "He didn't look much different than he would, I think, if he had hit a base hit to left and was running to first, rounding first and coming back. He didn't look like he was favoring anything. He didn't look like he was limping. So I was very encouraged."

The calf injury has sidelined Cabrera since July 4 and he is eager to return to the lineup.

"I want to play," Cabrera said. "Right now, if it was me, I'd play [Tuesday]. It's not my decision now. Let's see how it feels [Wednesday] and we can say something [Wednesday]."

Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (thumb) was activated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Monday, according to MLB.com.

Buxton has been out with a thumb injury since the middle of June. He flashed some of his high up-side in his first stint in the Major Leagues. In 11 games since his first call-up, Buxton hit just .189 (7 for 37), but he had a double and a triple and showed some strong defense in center field.

He'll head back to the minors to get some more seasoning, as he'll look to get some regular at-bats before possibly returning to the Twins later on this season.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has been a force with the bat as of late and it continued during Sunday's win over the Twins.

Brantley went 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored. It was Brantley's third consecutive game of at least two hits.

Over his last six games, Brantley is hitting .522 with 12 hits, three doubles, five runs and five RBI.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is scheduled to run the bases Tuesday, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Cabrera has been out since July 4 with a strained left calf. He could rejoin the team by the end of an upcoming eight-game road trip, which starts Monday.

Serving as the designated hitter on Friday, Twins outfielder Byron Buxton began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester. The rookie went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Buxton has been out with a thumb injury since the middle of June. There is no timetable for Buxton's return to the lineup.