MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper made his return to the starting lineup Monday against the Rays after sitting out Sunday due to a knee injury. He was in the lineup Monday as the team's DH.

Harper has hit safely in five straight games and continues to thrive offensively in June. He is batting .415 with a .732 slugging percentage and 1.252 OPS in 12 June games. He also has three home runs, four doubles, eight RBI, six runs and eight walks.

Don Mattingly has finally confirmed what has been assumed for a while - that Justin Turner is the starting third baseman for the Dodgers.

"It's pretty much Justin," Mattingly told the Orange County Register.

Turner has been the man since Juan Uribe was traded to Atlanta, though he lost a few games with a knee ailment. He has hit safely in each of his last six starts and owns a fine slash line of .316/.388/.493.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 2 for 4 in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Martinez hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He now has 12 home runs and 32 RBI this season. 

Martinez has now hit in eight straight games. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 3 for 4 with three runs scored in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Cabrera hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his 14th of the year and second in three days. Cabrera has multiple hits and RBI in each of the last three games. 

Cabrera now has 45 RBI on the year. 

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes went 1 for 4 with a run scored in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

The single extended Cespedes' hitting streak to eight straight games. 

Indians left fiedler Michael Brantley went 0 for 4 in Sunday's loss to Detroit.

The hitless game was Brantley's first since May 29. It snapped his 11-game hitting streak, which had been the second-longest active streak in MLB and longest in the American League. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler began throwing as a part of his rehab process on Sunday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Soler, who is one the 15-day disabled list, will be able to remove the protective boot he's been forced to wear on his ankle soon. He has not begun hitting yet.

Soler is hitting .265 with four home runs and 19 RBI in 189 at-bats this season.

Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins drove in five runs in Sunday's win over Boston. 

Goins went 2 for 5 and hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. He also doubled. 

Goins now has eight doubles, two homers and 22 RBI on the year. 

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon hit his eighth home run of the season in Sunday afternoon’s 4-1 win against the Marlins.

Blackmon, hitting leadoff, crushed Dan Haren’s seventh pitch of the game over the right field wall for a solo home run in the top of the first inning. Blackmon finished the game 1 for 4 from the plate.

Blackmon is hitting .282 in his last 10 games and now has 21 RBI for the year.

Athletics outfielder Mark Canha and designated hitter Billy Butler are getting days off and aren't in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. 

This marks only the third time this season that Butler hasnt started a game this season. Canha is getting a breather after a solid performance Saturday night in which he went 2 for 4 from the plate.