MLB Player News

Prior to Monday's game against the White Sox, Twins manager Paul Molitor moved rookie center fielder Byron Buxton into the leadoff spot in the lineup and said the experiment would likely last just one game because he liked the matchup against left-hander John Danks.

Well, Molitor might have to reconsider his plans since Buxton provided a spark atop the lineup in a 13-2 rout.

Buxton wasted little time making an impact, as he recorded his first career double in his first at-bat Monday. He went on to have his first multihit game, going 3 for 5 with three runs.

"I'm just glad Molitor had that much faith in me to put me in the leadoff spot," Buxton said, per MLB.com. "I just tried to relax and have fun."

Buxton now has four hits in his last two games after managing just two hits in his first seven games.

"It's got to feel good for him to get a multihit game and contribute and get a chance to lead off and score a run in the first inning," Molitor said. "So it was nice to see him respond with that challenge and be a part of the win."

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson hit his 19th home run of the season in Monday night's 4-2 loss to the Cubs. 

Pederson went 1 for 3 in the game, drew a walk and struck out once. Pederson is hitting .290 over his last 10 games while posting hits in eight of those outings as well. 

Pederson now has a slash line of .252/.393/.551. 

Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes smacked his 10th home run of the season to send the Tigers to a 8-5 win over the Indians on Monday.

Cespedes hit the solo shot off Trevor Bauer in the third inning. Cespedes also drove in two more runs when he hit a double off Bauer in the first inning. He finished the game 3 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Prior to Monday's game, Cespedes had been hitting .357 with two home runs and eight RBI in his last 14 games.

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler (ankle) is about a week away from beginning a rehab assignment, manager Joe Maddon told reporters Monday, per ESPN. Soler has been sidelined since early June.

For the first time since his promotion to the majors, the Twins batted Byron Buxton in the leadoff spot Monday against the White Sox. He had hit ninth in his first eight games.

Buxton moving to the top spot in the lineup meant Brian Dozier got bumped to the second spot in the batting order. Dozier has hit leadoff a team-high 51 times in 2015, and Monday was the first time he hadn't hit leadoff since May 20.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said he envisions Buxton batting leadoff as a "one-day thing," per MLB.com. He likes the matchup Monday against left-hander John Danks.

Buxton is batting just .120 (3 for 25) with one triple, one stolen base and nine strikeouts since his highly anticipated promotion. Dozier has a .271/.529/.887 slash line in his last 19 games.

Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game, snapping a streak of 12 straight starts at first for the Jays. Goins has started 15 of the last 16 games. 

Munenori Kawasaki will replace Goins at second, getting the call for just the fifth time this year. He'll bat ninth. 

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner continued his torrid pace at the plate in Sunday's 10-2 win over the Giants. Turner went 2 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored. 

In the fifth inning, Turner launched his ninth home run of the season, his third in as many games. Turner belted a two-run shot to put the Dodgers up 10-1.

Turner has been on fire at the plate, as he has hit safely in each of his last 11 starts (13 games), batting a robust .436 with four home runs and 12 RBI over that span.

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon recorded a season-high four RBI in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Blackmon went 2 for 4 with four RBI and a walk in the game.

Over his last three games, Blackmon is hitting .500 with six hits and eight RBI.

Giants left fielder Nori Aoki is not in the lineup for Sunday night's game. 

Aoki was hit in the leg by a pitch in Saturday' game and had to leave the contest.

Brandon Belt moved from first base to left field to replace Aoki. Buster Posey moved from catcher to first to cover for Belt's absence.  

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run to help key a nine-run first inning in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh. 

Harper went 1 for 4 and extended his hitting streak to five games. He's 8 for his last 18. 

Harper hit his second home run in as many days and third in the last five games. He has 24 home runs and 57 RBI.