MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt hit a pair of solo home runs in Tuesday's win over Houston. 

Belt went deep twice in a game for the second time in the month of August. He also had two homers on the first of the month. 

In 10 games this month, Belt has seven home runs and nine RBI. Only three of his 10 August hits have been non-homers, all singles. 

Left fielder Michael Brantley was the walk-off hero for the Indians on Tuesday, as the defeated the Yankees 5-4 in extra innings. Brantley, who went 3 for 6 in the game, drove home the winning run with an RBI single in the 16th inning. It was Brantley's third career walk-off hit

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler went 1 for 3, with a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over Milwaukee. 

Soler hit in his 10th straight game. He's hitting .382 over the streak. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to left knee soreness.

He was replaced in right field by Clint Robinson. Over his last 13 games, Harper is hitting .354 with two home runs and five RBI.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Miguel Cabrera is making progress from his calf injury and he could return for this weekend's series at Houston, reports MLive.com. Cabrera was able to take live batting practice and run the bases Tuesday.

"I thought he looked good," Ausmus said. "He didn't look much different than he would, I think, if he had hit a base hit to left and was running to first, rounding first and coming back. He didn't look like he was favoring anything. He didn't look like he was limping. So I was very encouraged."

The calf injury has sidelined Cabrera since July 4 and he is eager to return to the lineup.

"I want to play," Cabrera said. "Right now, if it was me, I'd play [Tuesday]. It's not my decision now. Let's see how it feels [Wednesday] and we can say something [Wednesday]."

While Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (hand) continues to hit in the batting cage, there is no timetable for the All-Star outfielder to face live pitching.

"He's progressing nice," manager Dan Jennings said, per The Miami Herald. "He'll continue to do baseball activities. You know, it's just about when he gets the strength back in that hand and wrist."

Stanton has missed more than six weeks due to a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

"He has been in the cages, starting to feel some strength come back," Jennings said. "So, hopefully, that's a positive side that we can move that clock forward some."

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson wasn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game, after starting 101 games this year. 

Pederson was replaced by Enrique Hernandez, who got his eighth start and fourth in the last 10 games. 

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game, ending a string of 16 straight starts and 33 of the last 34. 

In his place, Drew Stubbs gets his 13th start of the year. 

Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (thumb) was activated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Monday, according to MLB.com.

Buxton has been out with a thumb injury since the middle of June. He flashed some of his high up-side in his first stint in the Major Leagues. In 11 games since his first call-up, Buxton hit just .189 (7 for 37), but he had a double and a triple and showed some strong defense in center field.

He'll head back to the minors to get some more seasoning, as he'll look to get some regular at-bats before possibly returning to the Twins later on this season.

Don Mattingly has hinted that Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner could receive a little extra time past eligibility to recuperate from a skin infection that has him on the disabled list, per the Orange County Register.

Mattingly is cautious about his legs because of hamstring issues that have plagued him in the past.

The Dodgers have struggled at that position since Turner went down two weeks ago. He has enjoyed a suprisingly productive season, compiling a slash line of .323/.387/.563.