MLB Player News

Carpenter is back in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Nationals, batting third and playing first base, Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest reports.

Carpenter missed Tuesday's game after experiencing back tightness, but it appears he's good to go after a day of rest. The lefty is off to a tough start this year with a .208 average through eight games, and it may not get much easier with Max Scherzer toeing the rubber for Washington on Wednesday.

Goins went 0-for-2 with a walk and struck out once in his first start of the season Tuesday against Milwaukee.

Nearly every Blue Jays player had seen their name grace the starting lineup before the team returned home from a six-game road trip to start the season. Everybody except for Goins, that is. The utility man has carved out a niche as a late-game defensive substitute, but offers little in terms of offensive production. It would take a slew of injuries for Goins to become relevant in any fantasy format.

Manager Brad Ausmus said Tuesday that he does not expect Martinez (foot) will need a full 20-day rehab assignment, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The Tigers are not providing a timetable for Martinez's return to action, but the fact that they are talking about a rehab assignments speaks to the outfielder's progress. Ausmus said Martinez is progressing "extremely well," having advanced to regular batting practice Monday. The biggest tests -- namely running and cutting in the outfield -- still await, but a return before the end of the month seems well within the realm of possibility.

Buxton is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Eddie Rosario will start in center field against right-hander Michael Fulmer. Buxton has looked completely lost at the dish early on this season, going 2-for-29 with 17 strikeouts to one walk. A recent move down in the batting order (down to the eight-hole) hasn't helped matters. While the 23-year-old has flashed brilliance on the defensive side, and the team has every incentive to let him learn on the job, Buxton will need to show some signs of improvement to justify a regular spot in the lineup.

Miller is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Miller will give way to Daniel Robertson at second base after starting eight straight games to begin the 2017 season. The 27-year-old is off to a sluggish start, with five hits (one extra-base hit), six walks and 12 strikeouts in 35 plate appearances. He will get plenty of chances to turn it around, but the Rays may opt to sit Miller occasionally against lefties until he gets it going at the plate.

Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals.

It's easy to understand the Cards' reluctance to give him a chance to hurt them, as Harper has started off 2017 by slashing .393/.541/.679 through eight games to go along with two homers, eight RBI and nine runs scored. With Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman just as hot behind him in the Nats batting order, though, teams may find they have little choice but to give the 2015 NL MVP some hittable pitches.

Ozuna went 2-for-2 with two home runs, six RBI and a walk during Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Braves.

Ozuna plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning before launching a three-run homer to right in the third and a two-run job to left in the fifth. The 26-year-old entered the game batting a robust .375 and upped that to .423 to go along with a Major League-leading 12 RBI after this monster performance.

Brantley went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI double in the 10th inning Tuesday to give the Indians a 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Shoulder troubles ruined his 2016, but Brantley has looked fully healthy to begin this season, collecting four RBI through his first six games. The Tribe will continue taking it relatively easy on him, resulting in more frequent days off, but the 29-year-old appears ready to once again contribute the solid five-category production he delivered in 2013-15.

Cespedes went 4-for-6 with three homers and five RBI in Tuesday's 14-4 drubbing of the Phillies.

After hitting just .154 through the season's first seven games, Cespedes apparently woke up a new man Tuesday. He absolutely went off on the Phillies, homering in his first three at-bats on a day that ultimately saw the Mets go yard seven times. Another season of 30-plus homers with solid average and strong counting stats appears to be in the works.

Carpenter, who is out of the lineup Tuesday, experienced back tightness Monday night, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Apparently, the back issue is not the sole cause of Carpenter's absence Tuesday. Manager Mike Matheny said Carpenter's 2-for-16 career record against lefty Gio Gonzalez, Tuesday's starter for the Nationals, factored into the decision to hold Carpenter out. The 31-year-old also dealt with back trouble throughout the spring, but he should be considered merely day-to-day for now.