MLB Player News

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha continued to swing a hot bat on Friday, launching his first home run of the season and leading his club to a 12-0 win over Seattle. Canha took Taijuan Walker deep for a two-run home run in the second inning to break the game open. He finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Canha is hitting .500 (7 for 14) with six RBI to start the season.

"I don't even talk to him right now," manager Bob Melvin said after Friday's game, per Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. "Whatever he's doing, let's just let him do it."

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was removed from Friday's game against Milwaukee in the bottom of the ninth inning with left knee soreness, manager Clint Hurdle said, per MLB.com.

McCutchen appeared to have suffered the injury after he hit a grounder to third in the third inning, Hurdle revealed.

"He took himself out after he ran down the line on that grounder, and felt a little something," Hurdle said.

McCutchen finished 0 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. He was replaced by Andrew Lambo in the bottom half of the ninth. McCutchen's status remains up in the air for Saturday's contest.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton accounted for three RBI in Friday night's 10-9 extra-inning win over the Rays. 

Stanton went 2 for 3 in the game and drew a walk. Stanton was also hit by a pitch in the third inning. 

Stanton hit a two-run double in the fourth inning and later hit an RBI single in the eighth, which put the Marlins up 9-8 at the moment. These were Stanton's first three RBI of the 2015 season.

“Maybe just didn’t get it high enough,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the pitch Stanton hit for the RBI single. “Looking on the (videoboard) it certainly looked like a good pitch to me. Sometimes you have to give the other guy credit.”

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt will miss his third straight game on Friday. 

Belt has been sidelined with a sore groin and was initially listed as questionable for Friday against the Padres. 

Manager Bruce Bochy said that Belt may return to the lineup on Sunday, but Monday is more likely, per MLB.com.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is going with six right-handed hitters against the Athletics Friday night, according to MLB.com. 

With Athletics southpaw Drew Pomeranz on the mound, McClendon is giving Dustin Ackley and shortstop Brad Miller some rest. Both are left-handed hitters and McClendon has opted for outfielder Justin Ruggiano and shortstop Willie Bloomquist instead. 

Ruggiano is hitting sixth and Bloomquist ninth. The only left-handed hitters in the lineup are Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Logan Morrison. 

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha will hit second in Friday night's game against the Mariners, according to MLB.com. 

A day before in the series-finale against the Rangers, Canha hit seventh. This season, Canha is already 4 of 9 with two double and four RBI. Catcher Stephen Vogt will move down the lineup and bat seventh. 

Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Eric Sogard also switched places from Thursday's lineup. Semien will hit eighth and Sogard ninth. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was left out of the starting lineup Friday against the Nationals for the first time in four games this season. Darin Ruf drew the start at first base with left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the hill.

Howard, who is batting .083 (1 for 12) through three games, is a career .224 hitter against lefties. 

Ruf, who made a third straight start Friday (started in left field previous two days), has no hits in seven at-bats this season.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the starting lineup and is batting third, behind Jason Kipnis and ahead of Carlos Santana on Friday against the Tigers, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Brantley was sidelined the previous two games with lower back stiffness. He has been held without a hit in four at-bats this season.

Manager Terry Francona told reporters he may sprinkle in some off days for Brantley in the near future after the outfielder acknowledged he's still experiencing some lower back discomfort, per MLB.com.

"We'll keep an eye on him," Francona said. "If he needs a day off or something, we can certainly do that. But we don't ever want to turn something that could be a day or two into two weeks. But it's nice having him in the lineup, that's for sure."

Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau and center fielder Charlie Blackmon were not in the starting lineup Friday against the Cubs. Chicago started left-hander Travis Wood.

Drew Stubbs replaced Blackmon in center field, while Wilin Rosario started at first base for Colorado. 

Blackmon, who bats left-handed, is batting .143 (2 for 14) with one double and no RBI in three games. He also has one run, one walk and six strikeouts.

Morneau, who also bats left-handed, is batting .077 (1 for 13) with one double and no RBI in three games. He has no walks and one strikeout.

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez went 2 for 5 at the plate in Thursday's win over the Twins. Martinez hit a home run and a single, driving in a game-high three runs. He is now hitting .286 on the season.