MLB Player News

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 2 for 4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Friday's win over Miami. 

Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games. He's hitting .368 over the streak. 

"He's always looking for something, something to add to his bag of tricks," manager Mike Matheny said, per MLB.com. "It's been nice to add home runs into the bag this year, and we've reaped the benefits of that. And then to just look and see what they're going to give you [on defense], it's a smart play."

Terry Francona has declared that Indians premier hitter Michael Brantley will only miss two or three games with a shoulder ailment.

An MRI revealed nothing serious. He could be back Sunday in Minnesota or Monday for the start of a three-game series in Boston.

"He's been playing through a lot," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "Hopefully, when something like this happens, maybe a couple days down helps the rest of his body, because he's found a way to be still so productive and so good, but I know it's probably been hard for him at times. He doesn't say anything. He doesn't like saying anything about it, nor is he going to. Maybe this will help him a little bit.

"It's hard to not have him for a couple or three days, but it's a heck of a lot better than not having him for a couple or three months."

A hot streak since the All-Star break has his slash line sweetened to .312/.388/.461.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has undergone an MRI on his left shoulder and is out of the lineup Friday night in Minnesota, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

It remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined.

Brantley has been on a tear since the All-Star break. His hitless game Thursday ended a 15-for-29 stretch during which he scored seven runs and drove in six. He leads Cleveland with 63 RBI on the year.

The Tigers have announced that they have activated slugger Miguel Cabrera from the 15-day disabled list, per the Detroit Free Press. He is playing first base and batting third Friday in Houston.

Detroit must heat up in a hurry to claw its way back into the playoff chase and the addition of Cabrera should certainly help. He has been out since July 4 with a calf injury. The team opens a key weekend series Friday night in Houston.

Cabrera returns with a typically fine slash line of .350/.456/.578 and 54 RBI in 277 at-bats.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson connected on his 22nd home run of the season in Thursday's 10-3 loss to the Reds. His solo shot in the fourth inning cut the Reds' lead down to two, but the Dodgers were unable to overcome the Reds' offensive onslaught. 

The home run was Pederson's first since July 25, and just his second since the All-Star break. 

The Dodgers have activated third baseman Justin Turner off the disabled list and demoted second baseman Jose Peraza to Triple-A Oklahoma City, per truebluela.com.

Turner, who has been sidelined with a staph infection in the right thigh, returns in a breakthrough season. He owns a fine slash line of .323/.387/.563 with 44 RBI in 254 at-bats.

Don Mattingly has stated that Turner should start Friday against Cincinnati. He could play some at second base with Howie Kendrick on the DL.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner will require at least one more day to recover from a skin condition that landed him on the disabled list. He is out of the lineup again Thursday against Cincinnati.

Turner hasn't played since July 26.

About the only slumping Blue Jays hitter awoke from his slumber Thursday in style. Ryan Goins had been 1-for-17 entering play against Oakland, but his three-run homer in the second inning off Jesse Chavez proved to be the game-winner.

The blast, which gave Toronto a 4-0 lead, was only his second since June 14.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who has been out with a skin infection on his thigh since July 27, could be activated by the team as early as Thursday, per the Orange County Register. According to the Los Angeles Times, Turner said he had MRSA, a serious strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to antibiotics.

Turner's return to the lineup has been a little slower than normal to allow him to fully get back into baseball shape, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday was a day of "conditioning drills" for Turner, and that the team could activate him either Thursday or Friday. 

Turner has compiled a slash line of .323/.387/.563 for Los Angeles this season. 

After sitting out Tuesday's contest due to a sore left knee, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was back in the lineup for Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports The Washington Post.

Harper will hit third and play right field. He is hitting .343 with two home runs and five RBI in his last 19 games.