MLB Player News

Cespedes (leg) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.

Tuesday marks the fourth consecutive game that Cespedes has been sidelined for due to a troublesome leg bruise that had to be drained Monday. Juan Lagares will remain as the starting center fielder while Michael Conforto will bat out of the cleanup spot. There is still no word on when Cespedes will be able to get back on the field, but he is listed as day-to-day for the time being.

Harper is back in the lineup Tuesday, batting third against the Phillies.

After receiving his first day off of the season Sunday, Harper will be back in his usual spot in the lineup for the Nationals' series opener against Philadelphia, batting third. The 23-year-old superstar is off to a tremendous start this season, slashing .323//405/.855 with nine home runs and 23 RBI. He'll be facing Philadelphia right-hander Vince Velasquez on Tuesday.

Stanton went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, a walk, and a pair of RBI in Monday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.

Stanton followed his solo blast in the fourth with an RBI double the next inning, accounting for two of Miami's three runs. The 26-year-old slugger has gone yard in consecutive contests, and is up to five dingers in 17 games. What separates Stanton from most of the other guys off to fast starts in the home run department is that he actually possesses the power to sustain this pace over a full season, health permitting.

Carpenter homered, his third, in Monday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Carpenter finished 2-for-5, his first multi-hit game in his last 10. He's hitting just .239, but the discipline and power have been there. Carpenter's .851 OPS currently ranks fifth among National League first basemen, and he still has room to improve.

Cabrera broke out of his early-season slump in a big way, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored on Monday against the Athletics.

Cabrera was held out of the lineup on Sunday to try to break him out of his funk, and it worked like a charm. The star first baseman raised his batting average from .206 to .254 with the big day. Cabrera now has three home runs and 10 RBI for the season.

Canha came off the bench to go 1-for-2 with an RBI single in Monday's loss to the Tigers.

Canha made his first appearance of the year at third base in this one, having already logged time at first base and both corner outfield spots. Canha hasn't been hitting very well to start the season, sporting a .179 batting average. However, he has three home runs in just 28 at-bats this year after launching 16 a year ago. As long as he continues to get time in the lineup, Canha will remain a power threat for the A's.

Turner (toe) is in the starting lineup Monday.

After sitting out Saturday's game, Turner walked as a pinch hitter Sunday. He'll man the cleanup spot Monday night with the Dodgers sitting their lefties against Miami southpaw Wei-Yin Chen.

Choi is making his second start in three games Monday, playing left field and batting ninth against the Royals, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Choi has been used sparingly this season despite Daniel Nava's current lack of availability due to injury. Thus far, Choi is 1-for-8 with a strikeout and three walks in seven games with the Angels.

McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Monday night against the Rockies, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

It's McCutchen's first day off of the 2016 season. Starling Marte will slide over to play center field while Matt Joyce draws into the lineup and hits second against Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis.

Brantley was activated from the DL on Monday, but he's not in the starting lineup against Twins lefty Tommy Milone.

Brantley is 2-for-10 in his career against Milone, but it's somewhat surprising that he is not in the lineup upon activation from the DL. The corresponding move for Brantley's return was to place Carlos Carrasco on the 15-day DL, so the Indians apparently simply added Brantley as an available bench bat Monday with the plan of starting him Tuesday against Ricky Nolasco.