MLB Player News

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez suffered a lower back contusion during Tuesday's win over Oakland, MLB.com reports. 

Martinez, who is day to day, went 1 for 4 before leaving the game. He's batting .251 on the season. 

Tigers manager Jim Leyland doesn't believe Miguel Cabrera will need to go on the disabled list. Outside of that, he's not being much help, MLive.com reports.

"I doubt very much that he'll play tomorrow," Leyland said. "I don't know that for a fact. I can assure you he's not going to play both these games the next two days. He will not play both games. Will he play one? I can't answer that right now."

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was healthier than was originally thought Tuesday at Houston. Cespedes took batting practice before the game but was thought unavailable until Wednesday. 

Cespedes, however, graounded out in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter for Seth Smith. He remained in the game as the designated hitter and doubled. He went 1 for 2 and is batting .227 as he finally appeared in a game during the second half of the season. 

Manager Bob Melvin said after the game that Cespedes will start Wednesday against the Astros, MLB.com reports.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who didn't start Tuesday at Chicago due to his sore left hip flexor muscle, is day to day at the moment, the Detroit Free Press reports. That said, his status is a bit up in the air. 

"He’s not playing, I’ll leave it at that," Leyland said when asked about Cabrera before the game. 

When pressed, Leyland continued to reiterate that the only thing he knows is that Cabrera will miss Tuesday's game. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes had an impressive batting practice session Tuesday before Oakland's game at Houston, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Cespedes is not starting Tuesday, but could return to the lineup Wednesday. 

Cespedes has missed the last five games with left wrist soreness, but was pelting balls all over the field in batting practice. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who was recently optioned to Double-A Jacksonville, will have his left thumb examined for a possible injury that could land him on the disabled list, the Miami Herald reports. Ozuna hit .162 (11 for 68) through 17 July games before getting sent down. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is not in the team's starting lineup Tuesday against the White Sox.

Cabrera left Monday's game with a quad issue and is considered to be day-to-day. Don Kelly will fill in at third. Cabrera is hitting .358/.454/.666 in 374 at-bats. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is not in the club's starting lineup Tuesday against the Astros.

Cespedes was slated to take batting practice Tuesday, but there was still some doubt about his availability if it went well. Cespedes is hitting .225/.293/.420 in 307 at-bats. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes may not have been cleared for batting practice Monday, but he was able to hit off a tee, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Cespedes also took soft toss, but was not allowed to take batting practice. He intends to take batting practice Tuesday, but manager Bob Melvin was hesitant to say whether Cespedes will play if he hits well. He may have a better chance of returning Wednesday.

Cespedes is hitting .225/.293/.420 in 307 at-bats. 

The Marlins optioned Derek Dietrich and Marcell Ozuna to Double-A Jacksonville after Monday's win at Colorado, the Palm Beach Post reports. The team will select the contracts of Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick Tuesday. 

Dietrich, a 24-year-old second baseman, was batting just .214 over 215 at-bats for the Marlins. He had nine homers and 23 RBI with 56 strikeouts. 

The 22-year-old Ozuna, a right fielder, hit .265 over 275 at-bats with three homers and 32 RBI.