MLB Player News

Twins desginated hitter Kennys Vargas went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 5-4 win over the Indians Friday.

Vargas has homered twice in his last three games while delivering six hits in 14 at-bats. On the negative side, he added three strikeouts to his two hits Friday. Vargas owns a .295/.310/.495 with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 190 at-bats.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 5-4 loss to the Twins Friday.

Brantley also added a double while extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He's also collected at least one hit in 22 of his last 23 games. Setting career highs virtually across the board in 2014, Brantley has delivered his first 20-20 campaign this year, hitting .322/.380/.502 with 20 home runs, 95 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 584 at-bats.

Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes belted his 22nd home run Friday against the Orioles. 

Cespedes struck in the fourth inning. With the bases empty, Cespedes belted an 80 mph slider out to center for a solo shot. He finished 1 for 5, with one run scored and one RBI. 

Royals second baseman Christian Colon has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sept. 7, with a fractured middle finger.

He performed encouragingly during several stints with the big league team this season. Colon boasts a stat line of .302/.348/.442 in 20 games.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton told reporters that he still needs more dental work before he has another CT test. Stanton  also admitted to sustaining an orbital fracture, though his vision was never impaired. The swelling has gone down in his face, but he'll need 6-to-8 weeks for all facial fractures to heal, according to MLB.com.

A matchup against Arizona lefty Vidal Nuno has Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon out of the lineup Thursday night.

Blackmon, who is coming off for a 5-for-5 performance with four runs scored Wednesday, is batting .268 against southpaws this season.

The Red Sox have benched disappointing left fielder Yoenis Cespedes for the Thursday night game in Pittsburgh.

Cespedes, who has not homered since Aug. 22, has just four hits in his last 34 at-bats and one RBI since Sept. 6.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon was perfect Wednesday, going 5 for 5 with a home run and two RBI in his team's 16-2 victory over the Dodgers.

Blackmon contributed an RBI single to an eight-run first inning and opened up the gates on the blowout with a solo home run in the third. The Rockies would score six more runs in the following three innings. Blackmon had been struggling as of late, going just 10 of 54 in September entering play Wednesday. He has hit .285/.331/.433 with 18 home runs, 70 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 561 at-bats.

The Marlins have made official what was expected - slugger Giancarlo Stanton is out for the season after taking a pitch to the head against Milwaukee on Thursday.

Stanton finishes the season with a stat line of .288/.395/.555. His 37 home runs still leads the National League and will likely continue to the rest of the way.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is in the team's lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves, despite leaving Monday's with lightheadedness. He is batting sixth and starting in left field Tuesday.