MLB Player News

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. 

Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt will become the third different player to hit third in the batting on Thursday against the Rangers, per MLB.com. Manager Bob Melvin went with Sam Fuld in the opener, followed by Eric Sogard in Game 2 and newcomer Cody Ross in Game 3.

"Somebody's got to hit there," Vogt said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "That's a spot where we're trying to find who the right guy will be."

Mark Canha will hit No. 7 in Vogt's place.

Oakland will face right-hander Nick Martinez on Thursday. Vogt is hitting .429 (3 for 7) with a double, a home run and an RBI to start the season.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who is hoping to avoid a stint on the disabled list, took 25 swings in the cage on Wednesday, and could be used as a pinch-hitter on Thursday against San Diego, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters, per the San Francisco Chronicle.

Belt has been sidelined since Tuesday with a groin strain.

"I think we got it at the right time," Bochy said. "We did the best thing that could be done (Tuesday) night and pulled him out. Hopefully we'll be able to throw him out there in the next few days."

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller collected his second multihit game in three appearances during Wednesday's game against the Angels. Miller went 2 for 4 with a solo home run off Matt Shoemaker in the third inning.

Miller is batting .400 (4 for 10) with one home run, one RBI and two runs.

Athletics rookie Mark Canha had a big performance in his major-league debut Wednesday against the Rangers. He totaled three hits, including two doubles, and four RBI. He also had one run.

Canha almost had his first career home run in the bottom of the third inning, but the baseball hit the top of the right-center-field wall, so Canha had to settle for a three-run double.

"From the angle that I was running it looked like it might have hit off the wall then hit off one of those beams that's in the background there," Canha said, per MLB.com. "I really wanted the first one to be a grand slam. I thought that would have been cool. Just missed it."

Indians All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley missed a second straight start Thursday against the Astros due to a back injury. David Murphy started in left field Thursday after Mike Aviles drew the start in Brantley's absence Wednesday.

Brantley, who was hitless in four at-bats during his season debut Monday, will be evaluated by the doctors in Cleveland on Friday.

"He's a little stiff," Francona said, per Cleveland.com. "We'll try to stay away from him [Thursday] and get him looked at [Friday] morning, just to get a little more clarity. The doctors who have all looked at him think they have a bead on it, but it just keeps acting up on him. Hopefully the more information we get, the better feel we have and we can get him back out there playing."

Brantley has been plagued by back issues since arriving for spring training in mid-February. He was excused from some drills early in camp and missed some spring games due to his back problems.

Francona added Brantley "felt great" Wednesday before his back tightened up on him.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that he's "hopeful" outfielder Michael Brantley, who was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with a back injury, will return to the lineup Thursday but that he's uncertain of Brantley's availability, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports.

"If he doesn't," Francona said, "I'd rather it be a day or two than a week or two. He's battled this on and off all spring. We just want to get a handle on it."

Brantley also dealt with back issues this spring and was able to play in Monday's season opener, going 0 for 4 at the plate.

"The doctors have looked at him and I don't think there's any real concern structurally, but it hurts," Francona said. "We'll see how he feels [Thursday] and we'll certainly get him looked at when he gets home."

The Indians head to Cleveland Friday to open a weekend series against the Tigers.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton had a very poor day at the plate in the team's 2-0 loss to the Braves on Wednesday.

''You go through spells like that,'' Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. ''We came out of spring training and I thought we were swinging the bats really well. I give the Braves credit for the way they pitched. They pitched really well and shut us down.''

Stanton struck out three times, walking once. His batting average in the early stages of the season is .125. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup due to lower back stiffness, the team announced.

Brantley also dealt with back issues late in spring training. He went 0 for 4 on Opening Day. With Brantley sidelined, Mike Aviles will play left field and bat ninth.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is dealing with a very mild groin strain and is optimistic he will avoid landing on the DL with the injury, Belt said per CSN Bay Area.

Belt pulled up lame when trying to make a catch in Tuesday's game and was forced to leave with the injury. He is hoping to take some batting practice Wednesday, but doesn't know when he will be able to return yet.