MLB Player News

Athletics designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes drove in a career-high five runs as Oakland routed the Indians 13-3 on Sunday. Cespedes was playing DH due to a balky hamstring.

Cespedes had a pair of two-run doubles in five at-bats, and he also drove in a run with a grounder.

For the first time this season, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton did not find his name in the starting lineup Sunday against the Giants. He was replaced by Ed Lucas in right field.

Stanton has failed to record a hit in just one of 17 May games. He is batting .410 (25 for 61) with one triple, four doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs and 13 walks in May.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes served as the designated hitter Sunday in order to rest his hamstring, according to the Bay Area News Group.

Cespedes missed a few games in late April due to hamstring issues, and isn't 100 percent yet. The team plays six straight games on artificial turf during the upcoming week, so manager Bob Melvin wants to get ahead of the issue. Artificial turf is said to be harder on legs than grass.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, whose career-high 17-game hitting streak ended Friday, homered and tripled in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Giants. Stanton's two-out triple in the third was his first since Sept. 15, 2012.

His solo homer in the seventh gave him 12 long balls and a major-league leading 43 RBI this season. Stanton is hitting .320/.407/.615 after Saturday's 2-for-4 performance.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera belted his seventh home run Saturday against the Red Sox.

Cabrera stepped to the plate in the third inning with the bases empty. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Cabrera homered on a 94 mph fastball from John Lackey. Cabrera also singled and doubled during the game.

He finished 3 for 5, with one run and two RBI. 

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has returned to the lineup after missing a game with a back ailment. He is set to start against Oakland.

Brantley has been the team's most consistently productive hitter this season. His .279/.340/.483 stat line is the best on a team struggling to score runs. He is on pace for about 120 RBI after establishing a career-high with 73 last year.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller doesn't believe he requires an overhaul to escape a massive, extended slump that has lowered his batting average to .154.

"One swing away," he told the Tacoma News-Tribune. "One little thing. Baseball is such a feel game, and it's right there. I always feel like I'm right there. Nothing too crazy."

Miller, who was the talk of baseball during a torrid spring, has just two hits in 36 at-bats since his last multi-hit game on May 2. But his struggles extend back to mid-April. He has just seven hits in his last 71 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is dealing with a foot injury, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

McCutchen injured himself attempting to beat out a hit during the fourth inning of Thursday's game. He remained in the game despite the issue, and was able to run on the foot while in the field. McCutchen attempted to downplay the injury. "I can run on it fine," he said. "It’s more just trying to stop or having to maneuver at the last second."

McCutchen is hitting .306/.425/.483 in 147 at-bats.

Though he was forced to sit out Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not expected to be sidelined long due to a back injury.

Brantley was held out of the lineup Thursday, but manager Terry Francona told MLB.com it was more of a precautionary move. He expects Brantley to be back in the lineup Friday against the Athletics.

"He's doing really well," Francona said. "I just think since we're on turf, it's the last day of the trip, I'm not going to play him tonight. I think he'll be good to go tomorrow. He's going to take [batting practice]. He's already come out and thrown a little bit.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup Thursday.

Brantley had to leave Wednesday's game due to a back injury. He'll need more time to recover. For now, Brantley is considered day-to-day with the injury. He's hitting .279/.340/.483 in 147 at-bats.