MLB Player News

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who left Sunday's game with a hamstring cramp, was in Monday's lineup against the Athletics. He's hitting .322 with seven homers and 42 RBI.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera left Sunday's game against the Rangers with a right hamstring cramp. He is considered day to day.

Cabrera went 1 for 3 with one walk before leaving the game. Cabrera entered Sunday batting .373 with a .675 slugging percentage and 1.090 OPS in 22 May games.

Athletics designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes certainly can't be blamed for his team's dismal offensive performance Saturday in Toronto.

Cespedes opened the scoring in the second inning against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey with his eighth home run and added a single and triple to raise his average to .254. His big game halted a 1-for-16 slide.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley caught fire Wednesday, going 4 for 7 with three RBI, two runs and two stolen bases in his team's 11-10 win over the Tigers.

Brantley knocked in two runs on a second-inning single and one more on a single in the 13th to tie the game at 10-10 before his team went on to win on a walkoff balk. He has hit .302/.370/.523 with nine home runs, 36 RBI and six stolen bases in 172 at-bats.

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez followed up his first home run of the season Monday with another blast Wednesday, going 2 for 5 with two walks, one home run and three RBI in his team's 11-10 loss to the Indians.

Martinez has been extremely hot over his last three games, going 5 for 10 with a double, two home runs and four RBI. The offensive surge gives him a .267/.333/.489 line with two home runs and 10 RBI in 45 at-bats.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has emerged as a power hitter this season for the first time in his career, but not by changing his swing or approach. The result is that he appears destined to represent the team in the All-Star Game.

An injury to Jason Kipnis and lack of production from others in the lineup have forced Brantley to take over the third spot, but he has continued to thrive. His nine home runs this season is just one short of the career-high he set last season. He is also on pace for about 125 RBI - not bad considering his previous best was 73. He has also fanned just 16 times in 165 at-bats.

"It's fun to watch," Terry Francona told MLB.com when asked about Brantley's increased power numbers. "I think his base is stronger - his legs. As good hitter get to know themselves throughout the league, sometimes that evolves into more productiom. ... I don't think you see him selling out to hit home runs. It's just balls that maybe used to be doubles, he's starting to drive over the fence, which is great to see."

Brantley, who signed a four-year extension with the Indians in February, owns an impressive stat line of .291/.362/.515.

Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has been tossed from the Wednesday game in Cleveland by home plate umpire Tim Timmons for arguing a strike call in the sixth inning. Don Kelly took his place at the plate.

Teammate Ian Kinsler fanned on the previous pitch when Timmons ruled he had gone around. Kinsler appeared upset. Timmons declined to check with the first-place umpire on what looked like a checked swing on the replay.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller has struggled to open the season, leading some to call for him to be sent to the minors, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Miller has hit just .154 over 136 at-bats. There's a sense a minor-league stint could kick-start his bat, but the Mariners haven't made the move. That's possibly because infield prospect Chris Taylor fractured a finger recently. 

Taylor had gotten off to a nice start at Triple-A, hitting .372 over 145 at-bats. He would have been the most likely replacement for Miller in the majors. With Taylor hurt, Miller isn't likely to be shipped out.

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez tied things up in the ninth inning Monday by smacking a pinch-hit solo home run, but his team would go on to lose 5-4 in 10 innings.

Martinez drove his first home run of the season over the center-field wall on the second pitch he saw Monday to erase his team's deficit, but the Tigers weren't able to score again before the Indians' walkoff home run in the 10th inning. Martinez has hit .250/.295/.425 in 40 at-bats.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 2 for 4 with a walk and a walkoff home run in his team's 5-4, 10-inning win over the Tigers Monday.

Brantley came up with two outs and no one on in the bottom of the 10th inning and smacked a home run to right field to end the night for both teams. He has hit .292/.365/.522 with nine home runs and 33 RBI in 161 at-bats.