MLB Player News

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna snapped out of a mini-slump Thursday, as he had a huge game in a 4-3 win over the Braves.

Ozuna went 3 for 5 in the game, with his third home run of the season. Ozuna drove in another run with an RBI single, finishing the game with two RBI. He also stole one base, his fifth of the season.

Ozuna is now hitting .293 with a .750 OPS, three home runs and 29 RBI in 225 at-bats. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera will sit Thursday against the Blue Jays after he was removed from Wednesday's game with back tightness. Manager Jim Leyland does not consider the injury serious, though it has lingered for a few days.

"I think it probably tightened up on him," Leyland told MLB.com Wednesday. "Like I said, I don't know how it happens like it does, but it does seem to happen. We've been on turf now for six straight days. Guys aren't used to that. I think there's probably something to that. You're on the dirt, and then on the turf, and you're running the bases on the dirt and then you hit the turf. I don't really have an answer for it other than the back's bothering him and I'm not going to play him [Thursday]."

It does not appear as if this is a serious concern, but this is the first time he will not start this season. He has missed just one game in each of the previous two seasons.

For the first time since early April, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was able to push his batting average to .300 against the Phillies Wednesday.

McCutchen went 3 for 3 with a pair of walks to raise his average from .293 to .300. He added a triple and scored twice in a 6-5 win.

McCutchen has spent the last two months making up for a poor April, when he batted just .247. He hit .324 in May and .303 in June, and is already 4 for 6 in two games in July. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera (back) returned to action Wednesday in Toronto after he left Tuesday's game early. Cabrera went 0 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts in a 6-2 win at the Blue Jays. Cabrera is still batting .364 on the season for the Tigers. 

Tigers fans and Fantasy owners everywhere can rejoice -- Tigers starting third baseman Miguel Cabrera is in the starting lineup. Cabrera made it into the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays after leaving Tuesday's game due to back stiffness. 

Cabrera, who has started every game this season, has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games. He's batting .424 (28 for 66) with five doubles, eight home runs, 13 runs and 16 RBI in that span.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera said after leaving Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays with back stiffness he's hopeful he will be in the lineup Wednesday.

"Hopefully it's not a big deal and I can come [Wednesday], get treatment and get ready to play," Cabrera said, per MLB.com.

Cabrera said he felt tightness in his back prior to the game, but his diving attempt on Emilio Bonifacio's first-inning double exacerbated the injury.

"I dove on my side and felt a little something," he said. "I was tight, too, in batting practice. It was still sore in the game."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland might choose to be cautious with Cabrera and rest his star slugger Wednesday.

"He said no rest [Wednesday], he'll be ready," Leyland said, "but I'm going to play that one by ear."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who hit a three-run homer in the second inning Tuesday against the Blue Jays, left the game with back tightness, FOX Sports reports. 

He had pain in his lower left back and also has had some issues with his left hip in the past. That said, it is not expected to be serious. Cabrera is day to day. In fact, he tweaked his back in the first inning and homered in the second. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera blasted his 26th home run of the season during Tuesday's 7-6 win at Toronto. Cabrera went deep for a three-run shot off Chien-Ming Wang in the second inning. 

He finished 1 for 3 with two walks. Cabrera is batting .368 on the season and is leading the majors in hitting. He has 85 RBI to lead the league. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt homered in a rain-shortened game Monday against Cincinnati. 

Due to the rain, the solo shot was Belt's only official at-bat. Belt also walked. Belt has six home runs and 15 doubles in 45 games (37 starts) since May 9 and has raised his slugging percentage from .337 to .452.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homered in his first game back from the disabled list Monday against Milwaukee.

Harper went 1 for 4 with a solo blast in his first at-bat. He's hitting .286/.387/.597 with 13 home runs on the season.