MLB Player News

Cespedes went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs in Sunday's loss to the Marlins.

Six of his 16 homers on the season have come in August as Cespedes has been trying to make up for the time he lost to injury earlier in the year. Expect the 31-year-old to continue providing big numbers over the final weeks of 2017.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Dodgers.

Cabrera has suffered through a major decline this year, but he does have three multi-hit efforts over his last four games. While fantasy owners will be disappointed in his final stats, it's not inconceivable that he might enjoy a little surge down the stretch thanks to the diluted pitching of late-season baseball.

Martinez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's loss to Minnesota.

This was Martinez's ninth homer with Arizona, and he sports a rock-solid .903 OPS since moving to the National League. He's also settled into a cushy fantasy setup hitting behind Paul Goldschmidt in the heart of the D-backs' lineup and projects to remain a high-end fantasy asset throughout the stretch drive.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Belt is still experiencing concussion symptoms more than two weeks after being hit in the head by a pitch, Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

While Belt has been pushing himself in cardio workouts, he's still not at a point where he can go through them at full capacity because of his lingering symptoms. There is no guarantee that he will return in 2017, as this is the fourth documented concussion he's suffered dating back to his time as a college player at the University of Texas.

Buxton is batting third and playing center field Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Shane Jackson of MLB.com reports.

With Miguel Sano sidelined due to a shin injury, manager Paul Molitor will move Buxton up to the heart of the order. The speedy centerfielder has been hot at the plate in August -- slashing .339/.385/.593 with three homers and five stolen bases in 18 games -- earning himself a more favorable placement in the batting order. It's unclear whether Buxton will stick that high in the lineup when Sano returns, but it would be difficult to move him back to the eight hole if he continues to hit the ball well.

Goins will start at second base and bat seventh Sunday against the Cubs.

Goins has struggled, going 5-for-31 (.161) with nine strikeouts, since losing a nine-game hitting streak on Aug. 10. Although he's playing often, the infielder's .214/.266/.327 doesn't offer much fantasy appeal under any format.

Cabrera is batting just .235 in August, with a .179 mark away from Comerica Park.

It's been the veteran's worst month of the season so far, but Cabrera also struggled in July with a .237 average. Overall, it's been a subpar season by his lofty standards, as he's slashing just .256/.342/.409 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. Cabrera had only 18 home runs and 76 RBI in an injury-shortened 2015 season, but outside of that, he's had at least 25 home runs and 100 RBI in every season of his 13-year career. While his final numbers will be down this year, Cabrera could provide fantasy owners a boost if he finishes with a hot streak over the final month of the season.

Martinez (illness) is starting in right field and batting fifth for Saturday's game against the Twins.

Martinez is ready to resume his duties in right field after missing Friday's game due to an illness. The 29-year-old, who is slashing .239/.337/.580 with eight homers in 25 games with the Diamondbacks, will face Jose Berrios in his return to the lineup.

Miller is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mariners, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Manager Kevin Cash is loading up the Tampa Bay lineup with right-handed bats against southpaw Ariel Miranda, sending Miller to the bench following three straight starts. In his place, Daniel Robertson draws the assignment at the keystone.

Pederson was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Saturday's game against the Tigers, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Pederson has struggled mightily since the All-Star break -- slashing .156/.253/.312 with two homers in 28 games -- and he isn't necessarily needed at the big-league level with the recent acquisition of Curtis Granderson, so the Dodgers decided to send him back to the minors to straighten himself out. "For Joc to take a breath in OKC will be good for him," manager Dave Roberts said. He should be back with the Dodgers once rosters expand in September, while the Dodgers will trot out an outfield combination of Granderson, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig moving forward.