MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper returned to the spring lineup Friday against the Cardinals after sitting out Thursday due to an illness. Harper is batting .231 (6 for 26) with one double, one home run, three RBI, five runs, seven strikeouts and 10 walks in 12 spring games.

After a breakout season in 2014, Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez knows pitchers will change how they pitch to him, which he said he's ready for, reports MLB.com.

"They weren't last year, how can I put it, just serving them up, just not making adjustments," Martinez said. "This is the new age of baseball, where everything is computers and calculations and sabermetrics. If you have a hole, they're going to find it and they're going to make the adjustments game to game because of that. Every game you play in, there's advance scouts watching you and there's computers that are charting you. So when they go sit down, they're looking at a screen with all your percentages of what you hit good, what you hit bad."

Manager Brad Ausmus agreed that it will not be easy for Martinez to duplicate his 2014 season, where he hit 23 home runs with 76 RBI while batting .315.

"They definitely have a more in-depth scouting reports compared to a year ago," Ausmus said. "They're much more aware of him as a power threat, so they'll be more careful with him. That's the nature of baseball."

Nationals manager Matt Williams said outfielder Bryce Harper was held out of Thursday's spring lineup against the Mets due to a stomach illness. Harper is batting .231 (6 for 26) with one double, one home run, three RBI, five runs, seven strikeouts and 10 walks in 12 spring games.

“He was really feeling bad yesterday, and then today he’s still not feeling well,” Williams said, per NatsInsider.com. “He came in, did a little bit of light swinging in the cage, and he’s still not feeling good. So we sent him home again (Thursday). I think he’ll be OK to go (Friday). But we wanted to get him out of here and not get anybody else sick at this point.”

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is suffering from tightness in his back, manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com.

The back issue is expected to sideline Brantley for a few days.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in his team's 9-5 win over the Padres Wednesday.

Pederson has done little to cool the hype for his rookie season, as the outfielder pushed aside an 0-for-5 performance in his last two games to slug his fourth home run of the spring Wednesday. He has hit .409/.477/.773 with four home runs and two stolen bases in 44 at-bats over 18 games.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 0 for 2 and played four innings in the field Wednesday.

"I feel very good," Cabrera said after his debut in the field, per MLB.com. "I'm glad to be back at first and try to get in the rhythm, try to get in baseball shape. I was so happy to be out there at first base and try to play defense."

Cabrera made multiple tough plays in the field, giving his surgically-repaired ankle and foot a test.

"It feels very good," Cabrera said. "I try to make plays, and to make that play in that situation, I don't think about my ankle, my feet. Right now I'm focused on [trying to] go out there and play."

Cabrera is expected to be back at first base Thursday before receiving a day off Friday.

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas is trying to work on his all-around game, according to Twincities.com.

Manager Paul Molitor recognizes the power that Vargas has at the plate, but wants him to work on his swing-path.

"We all know he can hit them extremely far," Molitor said, "but that's part of the swing-path things we're working on with him so he doesn't come around the ball too much. He didn't keep it fair that much, but he did."

Although Vargas is currently the team's designated hitter, Molitor wants to be sure he is ready to play first base behind Joe Mauer.

"I don't want him to get comfortable with that idea," Molitor said. "We all know that's probably a role that he would most likely fill than any other. We're trying to be creative with ways to keep him sharp defensively. I've been putting him out there as much as I can."

Molitor also recognizes that Vargas is improving as a fielder.

"He's obviously better," he said. "I've seen Kennys for a lot of years over on the other side. He's put the time in, but he's not overly mobile and he needs to build his stamina where he can play defense for 150-200 pitches a game."

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter was forced out of Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals with a right quad contusion, per the team's official website. Carpenter was hit by a pitch in the opening frame, and was replaced by Pete Kozma to start the top of the third inning. He will likely be further evaluated moving forward.

While the Blue Jays have yet to make an announcement, Devon Travis will win the starting job at second base over Ryan Goins and Steve Tolleson, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Travis, who was acquired in a November trade with Detroit, is doing well offensively this spring. He is batting .400 (16 for 40) with six doubles, six RBI, three walks, four runs and five strikeouts in 16 spring games.

He is considered Toronto's fifth-best prospect by Baseball America. Travis has a career .323/.388/.487/.876 slash line over three seasons in the minors.

Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera (ankle) will start at first base Wednesday against the Marlins and will play four innings, according to MLB.com.

He told head athletic trainer Kevin Rand he was ready to play in the field after he filled the role of DH in his first two spring games Sunday and Tuesday.