MLB Player News

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 4 in Friday's loss to the Yankees, extending one streak and snapping another. 

Cabrera hit in his seventh straight game. He's hitting .500 over that span with 1.504 OPS. 

Cabrera didn't drive in a run, however, ending a stretch of six straight games with RBI. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler was able to shed his protective boot, as he took live batting practice on Friday. It's the first time he's done so since landing on the disabled list with an ankle sprain on June 3, MLB.com reports. 

The Cubs have not released an updated timetable for Soler's return to the lineup, and it is not known whether or not he will need a rehab assignment.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner is back in the lineup for Friday night's game against the Giants. 

Turner had the day off on Thursday. He's batting .315 this year with six home runs. 

Matt Williams has announced that Nationals star right fielder Bryce Harper will sit Friday night against Pittsburgh.

Harper sustained a hamstring injury Thursday and is undergoing tests to determine its severity.

"He's not in the lineup today and that's probably a given but we'll see what he can and can't do," Williams told MASNSports.com. "If he continues to have issues with it, then we'll take the next steps appropriate to go get an MRI if need be."

His loss for an extended period would be devastating for the struggling Nationals. He has emerged as perhaps the leading Most Valuable Player candidate in the National League with a slash line of .344/.476/.720.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley continued his hot streak at the plate during Thursday's game against the Cubs.

Brantley went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

In his last 15 games, Brantley is hitting .298 with 17 hits, seven walks and six RBI.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continued his assault on baseballs everywhere, blasting his 25th home run of the season in a loss Thursday to the Yankees. 

Stanton's shot to left field made new Yankee Stadium the 23rd MLB park in which he has gone deep. Stanton also raised his league-leading RBI total to 63. 

The red-hot Stanton now has 13 homers in his last 23 games, 10 of which have come in June. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was forced to exit Thursday night's game against the Rays with a left hamstring injury, the team announced via Twitter.

He injured his hamstring while attempting to throw a ball into the infield from right field. Harper, who collapsed immediately after the throw, was on the ground in pain but was eventually able to walk off under his own power next to trainer Lee Kuntz, albeit slow and with a slight limp. 

"I was in pretty good pain," Harper said after the game. "And a little scared at the same time."

Harper has had an MVP-like season up to this point. Losing Harper for an extended period of time would put a serious damper on the Nationals' season, which has stalled recently. Entering Thursday's game, the Nationals have lost 13 of their last 20 games. 

Harper left the game 1 for 3 with a single. 

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is back in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Pederson didn't start Wednesday's game but entered the game as a pinch-hitter and went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Pederson is hitting .333 with five hits and four walks in his last five games.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Thursday infielder Ryan Goins will get spot starts at second base, shortstop, third base and in the outfield once second baseman Devon Travis comes off the disabled list, per TSN.ca.

Goins has been on a nice run offensively as of late, batting .381 (8 for 21) with one home run, three doubles and nine RBI in his last six games.

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton hasn't done much offensively since his highly anticipated promotion from the minors. Entering play Thursday, he was batting .154 (2 for 13) in four games.

As much as the Twins want to be patient with the 2012 first-round pick, they are in the thick of AL Central race and need Buxton to iron out his swing quickly.

"You bring a kid up without any track record and you're evaluating him on a daily basis," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said, per the Pioneer Press. "I'm not going to tell you he's on a short leash, but I certainly do look for production, just like anybody else.

"He's starting out with a little bit of a shaky approach. Maybe he'll start to adjust and get it going. Hopefully, that'll be the case."

Buxton has made an impact defensively, and he seems confident his offensive game will turn around.

"I'm getting a little bit more comfortable up there," Buxton said. "I'm seeing pitches a little bit better and I'm starting to take a whack at it."