MLB Player News

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.

Pederson, who is out of Saturday's lineup, is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers just acquired Curtis Granderson from the Mets, and from an offensive perspective, Granderson is basically a better version of Pederson -- he can handle righties and can't hit lefties. Defensively, Chris Taylor is getting the start in center field against righty Michael Fulmer on Saturday, with Granderson getting the start in left. Pederson is slashing .215/.329/.418 this season and has been worth 0.4 fWAR in 295 plate appearances.

Goins is not in the lineup against the Cubs on Saturday.

Goins will get the day off after starting the past two games following a forearm injury during Wednesday's contest. There hasn't appeared to be any indication that his forearm was bothering the infielder in any capacity -- tests revealed no structural damage -- but manager John Gibbons will give him a day off for Saturday's matinee. Darwin Barney will slide over to short while Rob Refsnyder gets a start at second.

Buxton went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and a solo home run Friday, scoring all three times he reached base in a 10-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

The homer, Buxton's eighth of the season, was an inside-the-park job that featured the fastest time of any player circling the bases (13.85 seconds) since Statcast began tracking in 2015. The center fielder is once again putting together a big finish to a campaign, slashing .345/.393/.582 with three home runs, five steals, 10 RBI and 12 runs through 17 games in August.

Winker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-3 win over the Braves.

Scott Schebler's return from the DL will cut into Winker's playing time, but the rookie has done what he can to convince Reds manager Bryan Price that he deserves a regular spot in the starting lineup, posting a .298/.412/.474 slash line with three homers in 20 games since the All-Star break.

Friday's acquisition of Curtis Granderson could cut into Pederson's playing time in center, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers made a waiver deal to acquire Granderson from the Mets, and Pederson would likely see the largest cut in playing time to get the veteran's bat into the lineup. Both players bring similar skill sets to the table as high-strikeout, high-power center fielders. Manager Dave Roberts hasn't laid out his plans for Granderson going forward, but Pederson will surely have to snap out of his current 2-for-41 (.049) slump in order remain a regular in the lineup.