MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt missed the team's last game before the All-Star break due to back stiffness, but the time off helped him get back to full health. Belt is back in the lineup Friday against the Marlins, after four days off to heal. 

Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera clubbed a home run in his first at-bat Tuesday.

Cabrera wasted little time getting to work. On the second pitch he saw, he belted a line drive out to left for a two-run shot. Cabrera lined out and flew out in his final two at-bats. He finished 1 for 3, with one run scored and two RBI. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera did some back-tracking Tuesday, according to MLB.com.

During Monday's session with the media, Cabrera admitted his recovery from groin surgery hasn't been perfect. "There are times when I feel good, but there are always muscles that are tightening, muscles that are not functioning properly,” Cabrera told USA Today reporter Jorge Ortiz. He added that both he and Justin Verlander were struggling with their recovery from surgeries, but both agreed not to make excuses for their performances. 

Cabrera back-tracked on those statements Tuesday, telling reporters he was "good" when asked about those quotes. While Cabrera's numbers are lower than usual, he's still been exceptional on offense. Over 343 at-bats, Cabrera is hitting .306/.364/.534, with 14 home runs. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter has excelled on the road this season, hitting .310/.399/.422 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 187 at-bats.

Carpenter's excellent road numbers are built in part by a .393 BABIP, so it remains to be seen if he can sustain his success. He has had issues at home this season, hitting just .254/.354/.339 with one home run and 16 RBI in 177 at-bats. It's a complete reversal from 2013, when Carpenter dominated at home while posting average numbers on the road. Despite seeing his numbers take a step back this year, Carpenter is participating in his second straight All-Star Game Tuesday.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and Reds third baseman Todd Frazier survived tiebreaking swing-offs in the first round before eventually meeting in the finals of Monday's Home Run Derby, where Cespedes picked up his second straight title with a 9-1 knockout of Frazier.

Cespedes' three first-round homers earned him a swingoff with Athletics teammate Josh Donaldson, and after Donaldson managed just one home run three swings, the outfielder delivered homers in each of his first two swings to advance. He defeated Orioles outfielder Adam Jones 9-3 in the second round after Jones managed four first-round shots, then took down Jose Bautista, who had a competition-best 10 homers in the first round, by a score of 7-4 in the AL Final. Twins home-field competitor Brian Dozier hit just two home runs in the first round, failing to advance.

Frazier played the role of underdog throughout, hitting just two home runs as the first batter in the competition but managing to slide into a swing-off with Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau after Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig failed to hit a single home run before recording seven outs. Frazier went first in the swing-off and managed one home run in three swings but advanced after Morneau went 0 for 3. The Reds third baseman took down Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki 6-2 after Tulowitzki hit four first-round homers. Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton earned a bye after hitting six massive blasts in the first round, but he bowed out to Frazier 1-0 after a long break.

Cespedes joined Ken Griffey as the only players to win back-to-back Home Run Derby titles. He'll likely enter the 2015 competition as the favorite to make it three in a row.

The American League unveiled the following batting order for Tuesday's All-Star game: Shortstop Derek Jeter, left fielder Mike Trout, second baseman Robinson Cano, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, right fielder Jose Bautista, designated hitter Nelson Cruz, center fielder Adam Jones, third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Salvador Perez.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen has been chosen as the leadoff hitter for the NL team in Tuesday's All-Star game.

The batting order following McCutchen will be Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (DH), Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy and Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez.

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright will be on the hill to start the game for the NL All-Stars.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner began a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Turner served as a designated hitter and finished 1 for 2 with two walks in his first game action. Barring any setbacks, Turner could be back from the disabled list after three rehab games.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was a late scratch from the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks due to back stiffness. Belt is batting .167 (5 for 30) with one home run and four RBI in nine games since returning from the disabled list July 4.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes experienced more hamstring tightness during Saturday's loss to the Mariners, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Cespedes is expected to serve as a designated hitter during Sunday's series finale at Safeco Field.

Cespedes is hitting .249 with 14 homers and 56 RBI in 349 at-bats. The injury is not expected to impact his status in this year's Home Run Derby.