MLB Player News

Miguel Cabrera made his spring debut in the Tigers lineup on Sunday, batting third and playing DH. 

Cabrera has missed most of the spring, rehabbing from ankle surgery. He went one for three on Sunday, with two strikeouts and a fly ball single to left. 

Afterward, manager Brad Ausmus said that Cabrera had a "better than 50 percent chance" of being ready by Opening Day, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.

All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who has been out of action since March 13 with a lower-body injury is expected to return to action this week, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Manager Clint Hurdle said the Pirates "anticipate" McCutchen's return, which would be a welcome sight since the star has just 12 at-bats in five games this spring. 

Tigers first basemen Miguel Cabrera (ankle) and Victor Martinez (knee) will serve as the designated hitters for the team's two split-squad Grapefruit League games Sunday.

Neither player has seen Grapefruit League action this spring, though both were able to play on the minor-league side Saturday. Cabrera is returning from ankle surgery, while Martinez is working his way back from knee surgery. If they don't encounter a setback over spring training's final two weeks, both look headed for the team's Opening Day lineup.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said outfielder Andrew McCutchen (lower body) will go through baserunning progression on Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 

"He's feeling better," Hurdle said.

McCutchen has been out since March 13. He has taken just 12 at-bats in five games this spring.

After getting three hits and a walk in five plate appearances in a minor league game, Miguel Cabrera is ready to play for the Tigers.

Cabrera returned to game action on Saturday after recovering from ankle surgery. 

Afterward, he said everything felt good and began campaigning for manager Brad Ausmus to put him in the starting lineup on Sunday, according to Detroit Free Press beat writer Anthony Fenech. 

After hitting and running the bases in the minor league game, Cabrera said he'd prefer to play first base on Sunday to keep his ankle loose. 

Miguel Cabrera returned to the field for the Tigers a day earlier than expected. Cabrera was going to test his surgically repaired ankle by running the bases on Saturday, then play on Sunday. 

Instead, he was inserted into a pair of minor league games on Saturday. Cabrera singled in one game and ran to first base. Then he went to an adjacent field and hit a single in that game as well. 

Cabrera added a third single, a 10-pitch walk, and finished his day with a strikeout. 

The Tigers may be getting back Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez as soon as Sunday. 

Cabrera is returning from ankle surgery, and Martinez is recovering from knee surgery. 

Both players will run the bases on Saturday, and, depending on how they do, manager Brad Ausmus is considering putting them in Sunday's lineup.

"The final hurdle in terms of them getting into a game on the big league side would be running the bases and them being fine with that," Ausmus said, per MLive's Chris Iott. "It depends on today."

The Tigers have split squad games on Sunday, so both Cabrera and Martinez could play DH. Or the team could have them play in a minor league game and not run the bases. 

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said having first baseman Brandon Belt play in the outfield is "currently being discussed" as Hunter Pence is nursing a broken arm and Angel Pagan is dealing with a sore back, per SFGate.com.

“I’m down, for sure. I’m here to do whatever they need me to do,” Belt said. “If they want me to go the outfield, I’m ready to do it. If they want me to go on the mound and pitch, I’m ready to do that.”

Bochy also said Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall could be options to play in the outfield as well.

“We have coverage. It’s going to be up to us to decide which way we’re going to go,” Bochy said. “A lot depends on where we’re at with Angel before I jump to any conclusions.”

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit his first home run of the spring on Friday. 

In the fourth inning, Harper hit a 1-0 slider to right-center for a solo shot off of Jake Buchanan. Harper went one for two with a walk and lifted his average to .238 for the spring. 

Manager Matt Williams said that Harper had been "jumpy" at the plate earlier in the spring, but he'd settled down during batting practice over the last few days. “He’s calming his lower half down,” Williams said, per the Washington Post's James Wagner. “He gets 40 at-bats and he’ll be right where he needs to be. The BPs are better. He’s getting better results. He’s taking his walks. All those things are positive.

Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen (lower body) and Jose Tabata (ankle) both took batting practice Friday and showed no ill effects, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 

McCutchen has missed the last five games with his injury, which has been described as a "mystery ailment," but said he was fine after taking BP.

Tabata took his batting practice while wearing a protective shield on his ankle, after fouling a ball off his foot during Wednesday's game.