MLB Player News

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera blasted a 431-foot homer against the White Sox on Monday, but the slugger continues to deal with tightness in his left hamstring. "It felt better than (Sunday)," Cabrera told MLive.com. "But the last couple innings it started to get tight again. Hopefully, I can play on the field (Tuesday) and I get loose and go out there and play."

Cabrera is hitting .329 with 12 homers and 52 RBI.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was part of a huge offensive night Monday, going 3 for 3 with two walks, one home run, one RBI and five runs scored in his team's 17-7 win over the Rangers.

Brantley hadn't homered since May 19 before blasting a solo shot in the fourth inning that'll be remembered as a footnote to third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall's huge performance. The outfielder has hit .307/.373/.498 with 10 home runs, 43 RBI and eight stolen bases in 241 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI in his team's 6-2 win over the 6-2 win over the Cubs Monday.

McCutchen hit his two-run homer in the third inning and added his third RBI on a double in the fifth. He has gotten off to a great start in June, going 12 for 32 with four home runs and eight RBI in eight games. He has hit .309/.423/.509 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and seven stolen bases in 230 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt took grounders before Monday's game, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt wasn't able to grip the ball with his other hand, as he continues to recover from a fractured thumb. He'll try and continue to ramp up baseball activities in advance of a potential rehab assignment.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who left Sunday's game with a tight hamstring, was in the lineup Monday against the White Sox. Cabrera is hitting .326 with 11 homers and 51 RBI. 

The Dodgers aren't ready to promote outfielder Joc Pederson for a few reasons, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal wrote the most obvious reason is because the Dodgers' outfield situation remains crowded.

However, the Dodgers remain hesitant to promote Pederson because they feel he is still not a finished product. He is striking out every 3.5 plate appearances and still needs to work on improving against left-handed pitchers. The team also wants to see Pederson mature, as he has failed to run out grounders on multiple occasions.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was removed from Sunday's game against the Red Sox because of left hamstring tightness.

Cabrera singled and left the game for a pinch-runner in the bottom of the sixth inning with the injury. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Tigers have listed him as day to day moving forward. He added a double and finished 2 for 3 with a run scored before leaving the game.

Cabrera is hitting .326 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 227 at-bats. His status remains uncertain for Monday's game against the White Sox in Chicago.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer in Sunday's 5-0 win in Toronto, his first long ball since April 4. Carpenter's second homer of the season gave him 23 RBIs.

The leadoff hitter finished 2 for 5, raising his average to .299/.390/.394.

The Red Sox had trouble getting Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera out Saturday, as he reached base four times in an 8-6 win.

Cabrera stepped to the plate five times and made just one out, via strikeout. He was a menace otherwise, going 3 for 4 with a walk, with two of his hits going for doubles. He scored once and drove in one run as well in the win.

Cabrera got off to a relatively slow start this season, but has found his stride. He is now fourth in the American League with a .321 batting average, while ranking second with 51 RBI.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that injured first baseman Brandon Belt could begin baseball activities within the next week, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

"He's been running around a little bit, riding the bike, doing some one-arm swinging," Bochy said. "I think within a week he'll be doing some baseball activities, but he can pick up the conditioning to see if we can speed up this process."

Out since May 9, Belt had pins removed from his fractured thumb Friday. If Belt responds positively next week, it's possible he could go out on a rehab assignment the following week.