MLB Player News

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter collected his fourth straight two-hit game and sixth this season during a 4-0 win Thursday against the Brewers. He had two doubles, one run and one RBI.

Carpenter is batting .364 (12 for 33) with one home run, four doubles and six RBI in eight games. He also has seven runs, four walks and four strikeouts.

Twins first baseman Kennys Vargas didn't just hit a home run Thursday against Kansas City. He sent a missile off the facade of the second deck.

The baseball left the yard in quite a hurry and tied a game Minnesota eventually won. The homer gave his team momentum, but it also opened a few eyes.

"It was fast, yeah," Vargas told ESPN about the speed in which the ball rocketed out. "The first base coach, he told me, like, 'Wow! I've never seen that.'"

Vargas added a single to raise his batting average to .250 on the year.

When the Twins and Indians open a three-game series Friday, Cleveland will be sending ace Corey Kluber to the mound. Twins DH Kennys Vargas and third baseman Trevor Plouffe have fairly good history against the 2014 AL Cy Young award winner.

Vargas went 4 for 11 (.364) with one double, one home run and two RBI against Kluber last season, while Plouffe is batting .360 (9 for 25) with one double, two home runs and seven RBI in his career against Kluber.

Kluber is 4-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 career starts against the Twins. He went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the AL Central foe last season and is 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five starts at Target Field.

The Blue Jays recalled second baseman Ryan Goins from Triple-A Buffalo and designated pitcher Todd Redmond for assignment, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

Goins hit .188 in 67 games last season for Toronto. He batted .350 (7 for 20) in six games for the Bisons. Redmond posted a whopping 16.62 ERA in 4 1/3 innings of work to start the season.

Coming into the season, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly chose not to name rookie Joc Pederson the team's starting center fielder. Instead, he opted to say, "You're going to see Joc a lot in center field."

Well, at least Mattingly didn't lie in that regard. Pederson has started all nine games in center field for the Dodgers this season. Thus far, the rookie has been able to handle the everyday responsibilities.

Pederson reached base in every plate appearance during Wednesday's 5-2 win against the Mariners. He had a single and three walks. He also has one RBI.

While Pederson has had just one multihit game, he is batting .310 (9 for 29) with a .444 on-base percentage, .517 slugging percentage and .962 OPS. He also has one home run, three doubles, four RBI, six runs, seven walks and one stolen base.

About the only negatives for Pederson is that he has 11 strikeouts and has been caught stealing twice.

“It’s a tough spot for a young player, that eight hole,” Mattingly said, per the Los Angeles Times. “Tough spot for him to know when to be patient. He has a good eye so I think it’s just him staying with his game plan.”

As expected, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley missed a fourth straight start Wednesday against the White Sox due to a back injury. Mike Aviles started in left field Wednesday after Jerry Sands started in Brantley's absence the previous two days.

The Indians are considered favorites (-135) for Wednesday's game.

In his final plate appearance of the game on Tuesday, Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton batted without his customized helmet face guard he'd been wearing since his season-ending beaning from last year, reports MLB.com. 

"It's confidence for him," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "I think that's probably a big step. He swung the bat well. His at-bats were good."

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton broke a three-game hitless streak Tuesday, going 3 for 3 with two doules and four RBI against the Braves.

Stanton entered Tuesday's game hitting .130 with one double and three RBI.

'"We got a win, so that's the biggest part," Stanton said after ending a 0-for-12 slump. "Contributing to that is good for us and we need a series tomorrow."

Twins switch hitters Kennys Vargas and Danny Santana are both working to calibrate their swings from both sides on a daily basis, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Wednesday. 

"I never feel 100 percent from both sides of the plate," said Vargas. "When my right side is good, my left is like 50 percent. It's never the same. I try to maintain both swings, but it's tough."

Vargas is hitting .400 (4 for 10) against left-handers and .091 (1 for 11) against right-handers this season. Santana is batting .250 (3 for 12) against right-handers and .167 (2 for 12) against southpaws.

"I never feel good from both sides," Santana said. "It's always better from one side than the other. Never the same."

Athletics manager Bob Melvin has liked the early returns from rookie outfielder Mark Canha. So much so, Canha is becoming a regular in the starting lineup, reports MLB.com.

"That wasn't the plan," said Melvin, smiling. "Now, he's made his opportunities as I've said, and with Coco out, he's gotten the opportunity, so you gotta give him credit. He's getting good at-bats off whoever they're running out there."

Canha is hitting .367 with a home run and seven RBI in his first 30 at-bats this season.