MLB Player News

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes went 2 for 4 at the plate in Detroit's 8-6 loss to the Angels on Saturday. Cespedes did his damage in the second when he crushed a 1-2 pitch from Jered Weaver over the left field wall for a solo home run, his seventh of the season.

Cespedes is now hitting .284 with 28 RBI on the year.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has been hobbled for parts of the 2015 season while battling a back injury. He was kept out of action in spring training and in April with the issue and may be dealing with it again, manager Terry Francona said per MLB.com.

"I would think, as you get to where you're playing 20 in a row, everybody starts to feel stuff," Francona said. "I don't think he's really comfortable talking about it, because I think he feels like, 'Hey, if I'm playing, I'm playing.' I think he's done a good job with it.

"I don't want to put words in his mouth, but he hasn't been complaining about it. But, I'd bet you he does feel it sometimes. He's a tough kid."

Brantley has been choosing when to push himself lately.

"He tries to pick his spots a little bit," Francona said. "We've talked about it a little bit and I've actually probably encouraged it. One of the things I think every manager loves is when a guy just runs down the bases like their pants are on fire. But, we've actually talked, because keeping him out there is so big for us. Having him just keeping an eye on things, I think makes some sense."

Bryce Harper, who missed Saturday's game due to back soreness from getting hit with a pitch on Friday, remains questionable for Sunday's series finale, per The Washington Post. 

Harper, who was drilled between the numbers with a fastball late in Friday's contest, underwent "lots of treatment," according to Nationals manager Matt Williams during Saturday's game but remains sore. 

Harper said he has a bone bruise, and that when he swung a bat, he could feel the pain. He wants to wait for his back to heal so he doesn't alter his swing mechanics, according to the Post. Harper owns a five-game hitting streak, during which he has two home runs to give him 18 on the season. He's hitting .328/.468/.733 so far this season. 

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is officially the Mets' worst night mare. Stanton drilled two home runs on Saturday, as the Marlins won 9-5. 

Stanton first launched a solo shot off Jonathon Niese in the second inning to put the Fish up 3-1. Then, with the Marlins already up 7-5, Stanton added another solo home run, 466-foot bomb in the ninth inning. That's the longest home run in the history of CitiField.

"Since I've started here, they've brought the fences in a couple of times," Stanton said, per MLB.com. "That's always good for us. I feel like it plays fair, except for left field. It's a little close. But the rest plays a little fair."

Overall, Stanton went 2 for 4 with the two bombs, as his batting average now rests at .232 for the season.

Stanton now has 15 longballs this year, with five of them coming against the Mets.

Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said when Victor Martinez went out of the lineup due to injury that J.D. Martinez would likely handle cleanup duties for the Tigers. However, it's been Yoenis Cespedes that's found a home at No. 4, as he will hit cleanup for the fourth straight game on Saturday. 

Cespedes is 2-for-11 with one homer and three RBIs in the last three contests as cleanup hitter, but the Tigers haven't been able to muster much offense as a team, scoring just six runs in their last five games. Cespedes is hitting .308 against Angels starter Jered Weaver in 13 career at-bats. 

A sore back has cost sizzling Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper a start Saturday night in Cincinnati, per MASNSports.com.

The issue was the result of a hit-by-pitch off a fastball thrown Friday by Tony Cingrani.

Harper owns a five-game hitting streak, during which he has two home runs to give him 18 on the season. He boasts a sensational slash line of .328/.468/.733.

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler made his only hit of Friday's game count. Soler went deep with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but it was not enough as the Cubs fell to the Royals 8-4.

Soler's home run was his fourth of the season and just his first since May 8. He had been hitless in his previous three games and now sports a .276 batting average on the season.

Despite being hit on the foot with a pitch on Thursday, Miguel Cabrera is in the starting lineup for the Tigers' contest with the Angels on Friday. Cabrera will indeed start at first base and bat third as usual. 

Being his typical self, Cabrera is batting .314 (11 for 35) with two doubles, a triple and a home run over his last 10 games. 

Brad Miller returns to the Mariners' lineup at shortstop for Friday's game against Cleveland. 

Miller will start his team-high 28th game at short, but it's just his second time there in the last 11 games. He replaces Chris Taylor.

A matchup against Phillies premier left-hander Cole Hamels has Rockies leadoff hitter and center fielder Charlie Blackmon grabbing some pine Friday night.

Brandon Barnes is set to take over both those spots.

Blackmon is just 8-for-51 against southpaws this season and hitless in four at-bats lifetime against Hamels.

This will mark only his fourth absence from the lineup this season.