MLB Player News

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is back in the lineup Sunday and batting third in his team's matchup with the Brewers.

McCutchen came out of Friday's game with knee soreness and did not play Saturday. He's 2 for 16 with one home run this season but has extensive experience against Sunday starter Kyle Lohse, batting .317 with two home runs and eight RBI in 41 at-bats.

The Pirates are resting third baseman Josh Harrison Sunday, with Jung Ho Kang making the start at the hot corner. Gregory Polanco is leading off for the Pirates Sunday.

The Pirates are underdogs (+105) against the Brewers Sunday.

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and designated hitter Kennys Vargas are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against lefty Chris Sale and the White Sox.

The team is going righty-heavy against Sale, with Joe Mauer, who is serving as the team's designated hitter Sunday, the only lefty in the lineup. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe moves across the diamond to play first base, while Eduardo Escobar and Eduardo Nunez enter the lineup in place of Arcia and Vargas.

The Twins are underdogs (+135) against the White Sox Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

The Marlins have scratched outfielder Marcell Ozuna for showing up to the ballpark late and will start outfielder Ichiro Suzuki in Sunday's game against the Rays, the Miami Herald reports.

Ichiro has appeared in all five games for the Marlins this season, going 0 for 4 in his first four appearances before drawing a walk Saturday and getting caught stealing. Ozuna is 5 for 19 but has yet to pick up an extra-base hit.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Brantley has dealt with back issues over the first week of the season. Manager Terry Francona said the outfielder is feeling a little better Sunday and the hope is that he'll be able to return to action Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Jerry Sands will get the start in left field for the Indians.

The Indians are favorites (-110) against the Tigers Sunday.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 1 for 4 with one double and an RBI in Seattle's 5-4 win over the Athletics in 11 innings. Miller came up in the 11th with a runner on second and took the second pitch he saw from Fernando Abad to left field, driving in Logan Morrison.

"I've faced him a couple different times, and he's tough," Miller said to MLB.com. "He's been throwing well over the last couple days, too. He's got a fastball, slider, curve. He throws everything. But he left a slider up the other way, and I just tried to stay on it."

Miller is now hitting .333 in 15 at-bats this season.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner was forced to leave Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks with left finger stiffness, the team announced.

Turner had his hand slid into when A.J. Pollock tried to reach third. X-rays came back negative and the team is listing him as day to day with the injury.

"I thought it was broken," Turner said to the Orange County Register. "My knuckle was swollen up about an inch right away."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 5 with four singles and one RBI in Saturday's 9-6 win over the Indians. 

Cabrera, who also scored a run, singled in his two first at-bats, but was unable to score. He then singled in the seventh inning to bring home Adrew Romine and give Detroit the lead. He is now hitting .429 on the season.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt said Saturday that he felt pretty good after taking part in baseball activities at 70 percent effort and that he doesn't feel his hamstring injury while swinging, CSN Bay Area reports.

If Belt wakes up Sunday without having suffered a setback, he could be back in the lineup for his team's game against the Padres. Manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that while a Sunday return was possible, Monday was more likely for the first baseman.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the starting lineup Saturday night against Milwaukee.

McCutchen was removed from Friday's contest late in the ninth inning after attempting to play through left knee soreness, an issue he has been experiencing since spring training. He said he felt something in his knee during his final at-bat, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. McCutchen did not undergo an MRI, but said that his knee is "structurally fine" and will not need a stint on the disabled list, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

McCutchen is hitting .125 (2 for 16) with a home run and two RBI through four games. He will be available to pinch-hit in case of an emergency.

"It is frustrating," McCutchen said of the recurrence. "I've always been the type of player who comes in in tip-top shape, 100 percent ready to go. And it's been a little different for me this year, battling a few things. (In Spring Training) it was more than just the knee, the lower body in general. Now (the knee) seems a little more acute."

The Pirates are underdogs (+105) in Milwaukee, per VegasInsider.com.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was not included in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against Detroit, per FOX Sports Ohio.

Brantley returned from a two-game absence due to lower back stiffness on Friday, but revealed that he's still experiencing some discomfort. Manager Terry Francona also added on Friday that he would give Brantley some occasional days of rest moving forward. On Saturday Francona revealed that both sides have discussed about a possible stint on the disabled list, but "no one thinks it's needed," per the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

"He wants to play so bad," Francona said. "I just think we need to let this thing settle down, whether that's today, today and tomorrow, we'll see."

With Brantley sidelined, the Indians will have Ryan Raburn at DH, Mike Aviles in left field, and Jerry Sands in right field.