MLB Player News

Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes had a huge night at the plate in Friday's 14-9 thrashing of the Rockies. Cespedes went 5 for 6 with three home runs, seven RBI, five runs scored, a double and a stolen base. 

Cespedes took full advantage of the thin air in Coors Field, as he recorded career-highs in hits, home runs and RBI in this one. He entered the game with two home runs since joining the Mets at last month's trade deadline. The three longballs give him 23 on the year.

Cespedes crushed a grand slam--the second of his career--in the second inning. He added a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run bomb in the sixth. He attempted to become the first player in MLB history to hit a home run cycle (a solo home run, two-run homer, three-run shot and grand slam), but he fell just short of that feat.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton had to skip a day of hitting on Thursday because of pain in his wrist while hitting, per the Sun-Sentinel.

Stanton is still hopeful to return to the Marlins' lineup in September.

"It's just wrist weakness. Not the actual surgical part; the impact on my incision area is fine. It's the weakness in my wrist in turning over," Stanton said.

"It's a little different than [with a] muscle; at 75 percent of a muscle you can jog and still do some functional things. But I need 100 percent of my wrist. I can't go up and [face] 95 miles per hour and just have 75 percent of my wrist. I need all of that to turn it over."

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is targeting a September return after missing nearly two months with a left hamate fracture.

"We're getting there," he told Fox Sports. "Slowly, but we're getting there."

Stanton has been working in the batting cage to build up strength in his wrist. He acknowledges that there is still pain. His goal is to hit for at least five consecutive days without pain, but he's not close to that yet.

"When I can do that I'll be back," he said. "I got to two. We'll go from there. Two and then I couldn't get to the third, so start again today."

Stanton led both leagues in homers and RBI before going down. He still ranks fifth in the National League with 27 blasts despite his long absence.

Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi has stated that newly acquired Chase Utley could be used at third base when injured second baseman Howie Kendrick returns in early September, per MLB.com.

That would mean less playing time for current third baseman Justin Turner, who has had a surprisingly strong season. Turner owns a fine .312/.373/.543 slash line on the year, but is hitless in his last 12 at-bats.

A sore throwing shoulder prevented Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from playing in the field during Wednesday's game at Baltimore, reports NJ.com. Cespedes will be the designated hitter for the contest.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha went 4 for 5 at the plate to help send the Athletics to a 5-4 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Canha also drove in two runs and scored three during the contest. Prior to Tuesday's win, Canha was hitting .300 with one home run and five RBI in his last 12 games.

For the first time since being sidelined with a hand injury, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was able to face live pitching Monday, reports MLB.com.

"He's in a hitting progression," manager Dan Jennings said. "He'll start to hit off the machine and live batting practice. Then he'll progress into probably a simulation game and one or two rehab games. Time for that is to be determined."

Stanton has been out since late June with a fracture of the hamate bone in his left hand. Jennings said he needs to build up strength in his hand before he can return.

"When he feels the strength is there, he'll step on the accelerator," Jennings added. "When he's healthy, he'll be back. I know he wants to finish on a positive note. I hope that can be sooner rather than later."

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley is back in action Monday against the host Red Sox after missing the Minnesota series with a sore shoulder.

Brantley was on a tear before being sidelined. He was batting .454 (15-for-33) in his previous eight games with seven runs and seven RBI.

The desire of Terry Francona to use top hitters Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis as designated hitters upon their return to the Indians has created a dilemma.

Brantley and Kipnis, both of whom have been sidelined with shoulder issues, should be ready to roll Monday in Boston. But only one, of course, can DH. That could result in Kipnis being pushed back to Tuesday, per MLB.com.

The former received a cortisone shot Friday and joined the club in Minneapolis on Saturday. Kipnis is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday.

"I don't even know if we'd activate [Kipnis] or not [Monday]," Francona said. "It's going to be close. He certainly can be activated, but he's not ready to play second. ... I think Kip's kind of chomping at the bit, which I don't blame him."

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper returned to the lineup for Sunday's game.

Harper was forced to leave Saturday's game after fouling a pitch off his foot, but he returned to the lineup Sunday, batting third.