MLB Player News

Brantley (shoulder) continues to be limited to taking swings in the batting cage but has been able to increase his volume of swings, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians are balancing the fact that they don't want to rush Brantley back versus the fact that the minor league seasons are coming to an end in a few weeks and his ability to head out on a rehab assignment to see some game action may be in jeopardy as a result. He continues to make progress but until he advances further in his rehab it's hard to pinpoint a potential return date.

Reed, who was recalled from the minors on Tuesday, went 0-for-4 with a strikeout during Houston's 2-1 loss to Toronto.

Reed carried a lot of hype in spring training, but ultimately lost the Astros' first base competition to Tyler White and has yet to make an impact in 18 games with the big league club this season. The 23-year-old figures to platoon with White at first base while Luis Valbuena (hamstring) is on the DL. Expect him to start Wednesday when the Astros square off against right-hander Marco Estrada, but sit Thursday against lefty J.A. Happ.

Belt went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's 13-8 loss to Philadelphia.

Belt's fifth-inning blast tied the game at six, but it wasn't enough as the Phillies surprisingly continued to pour it on offensively. While this was just his second homer since June 19, the first baseman has shown increased signs of life since being moved down from third to sixth in the batting order on July 26. He's still slugging a career-high .489 despite the recent power outage.

Cespedes, who is to serve as the designated hitter the next five days for the Mets, felt some pain in his quad running to first on a pinch-hit single Tuesday but is expected to play Wednesday, Matt Ehalt of the Record reports.

Cespedes said the pain went away when he was in the dugout after the at-bat Tuesday. He added that the "Problem is once I take a couple days off I feel better. Once I go full speed is when the pain starts." Cespedes is still expected to be the DH on Wednesday, but that could change if the pain lingers.

Martinez (elbow) will be activated prior to Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Matthew Mowery of the Oakland Press reports.

Martinez, who has been sidelined with an elbow injury since mid-June, will make his triumphant return Wednesday against lefty Chris Sale. He hit .278/.316/.361 with 11 strikeouts during an eight-game rehab assignment. The elbow injury could prevent him from hitting for his usual power numbers over the rest of the season, but there should still be enough production for him be used in all formats upon his activation.

Cabrera went 3-for-5 with a home run, his 24th of the year, three RBI and scored twice Tuesday against the White Sox.

Cabrera's sixth-inning homer, the 432nd of his career, put him ahead of Cal Ripken Jr. for 46th in MLB history. The blast also gave the veteran six home runs in his last 11 games. He's now on pace to challenge 40 longballs this season, something he hasn't done since 2013, while driving in 100-plus runs.

Dickerson (hip) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

An outfield collision Friday left Dickerson with a bruised hip and led to a three-game absence, but he will return Tuesday to face right-hander Zach Davies. Dickerson has been excellent since his return to the majors in late June, going 22-for-75 (.293 average) with five homers, 13 RBI and seven strikeouts. He's making contact at an 86.8 percent clip with the big club this year (11.1 percent strikeout rate).

Harper has been scratched from Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks with an illness, Masn.com's Mark Zuckerman reports.

Harper has been in a tailspin, having not homered since July 20, but he did get on-base three times in Monday's romp over Arizona and scored thrice.

Goins was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Goins was activated off the 15-day DL on Monday and started that day's game at shortstop before being demoted Tuesday. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against the Astros, and with Devon Travis and Darwin Barney ahead of him on the depth chart at second base, Goins will go down to Buffalo for the time being.

McCutchen is not in the Pirates starting lineup on Tuesday against the Braves.

McCutchen is hitting just .211 with 11 strikeouts over his last 38 at-bats. He will take a seat as Matt Joyce gets a start in the outfield on Tuesday. Expect McCutchen back in the lineup on Wednesday for the Pirates at Turner Field.