MLB Player News

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha is slotted in the second position of the team's starting lineup for Friday's game against the Angels, marking the first time he has been that high in the order since April. 

Canha last started in the two-hole on April 24, ending a run where he started 13 of 14 contests in that position in the lineup. Canha has picked up his offense in June, hitting .381 with two homers, two doubles and five RBIs to start the month. 

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner has been cleared to return to the lineup, and he will start at third base on Friday against the Padres. Turner had been sidelined since fouling a ball off of his knee on Monday. But he appears good to go for Friday's series-opener with the Padres. 

Turner has been hitting the ball well lately, as he has hit safely in eight of the nine games he has played this month. Overall, he's batting .310 with five home runs on the year.

Perhaps it won't matter because Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has been mashing everything in sight, but he has struggled against Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick, who will face him Friday night.

Stanton is batting a mere .115 against Kendrick lifetime, though one of his three hits traveled over the fence.

He does, however, have seven home runs in the last nine games and eight hits in the last four.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez is only 1-for-9 lifetime with seven strikeouts against Indians starting pitcher Danny Salazar, who takes the mound Friday night.

Martinez will not dig in against him unless he comes into the game late. He is out of the lineup. Tyler Collins will take his place in the field and in the fifth spot in the batting order.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton stayed red-hot at the plate in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Rockies. Stanton went 2 for 5, including his league-leading 22nd home run of the season. Stanton's three-run blast gave the Marlins an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Stanton also had an RBI single in the second inning. He now has nine home runs in his last 12 games. 

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha slammed his eighth home run of the season in his team's 7-0 win over the Rangers on Thursday.

Canha hit a two-run blast off of Rangers reliever Jon Edwards in the eighth inning of the win. He went 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Canha is hitting .247 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 154 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt received a day off Thursday against the Mets, as catcher Buster Posey drew the start at first base. It was the second time in seven games and just fourth time since May 1 that Belt wasn't in the starting lineup.

Belt is batting .241 (7 for 29) with one double, one home run, six RBI, three runs, three walks, nine strikeouts and two stolen bases in eight June games.

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes was the only player on his team that produced during the 12-3 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.

Cespedes went 1 for 2 with a three-run home run and a walk. The blast came off Cubs starter Jake Arrieta in the sixth inning.

Cespedes is hitting .302 with nine home runs and 33 RBI in 225 at-bats this season. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt hit his eighth home run of the season during Wednesday night's 8-5 win over the Mets. 

This marked Belt's first home run in the month of June. He finished the game 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored. He also struck out once from the plate. He's now hitting .296/.371/.519 this season. 

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 2 for 5 with a RBI in his team's 4-2 win over the Rockies on Wednesday.

Carpenter snapped a five game hit-less streak with the multi-hit performance. 

Carpenter is hitting .297 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in 209 at-bats this season.