MLB Player News

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will continue to be the team's designated hitter until he can run without limitations, according to MLB.com.

Cespedes has started four games at DH after his hamstring gave him some trouble last Tuesday. Cespedes will return to the outfield once he recovers. Cespedes is hitting .235/.298/.471 in 221 at-bats. 

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton provided all the offense for his team in Monday's 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks, hitting a two-run home run off starter Patrick Corbin in the sixth inning and adding a solo home run off reliever Heath Bell in the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie.

While Stanton went 2 for 4 with two home runs and three RBI, the rest of the Marlins lineup combined to go 1 for 27. Stanton has four home runs in seven games since returning from the disabled list and seven home runs through 103 at-bats.

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler has injured his shin and could be headed to the disabled list, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Soler, who is with Class A Daytona, hasn't played since Thursday. He has hit .281/.343/.467 with eight home runs, 35 RBI and five stolen bases in 210 at-bats in the Florida State League.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera put Detroit on the board early Monday against the Orioles and the team never looked back. 

Cabrera hit his 19th home run of the season in the first inning off starter Jake Arrieta for a two-run shot. The Tigers won 5-1. 

Cabrera finished 3 for 4 in the game with two RBI and is batting .358 for the Tigers. The three-hit game was his first multi-hit contest since picking up three hits against Tampa Bay back on June 6. That said, Cabrera still leads the American League in batting and RBI. 

Nationals outfidler Bryce Harper met with a team doctor Monday, and has been cleared to resume his rehab, according to CSNWashington.com.

Harper will begin jogging and running in order to strenghten his knee. Harper has been treated with cortisone shots, which seem to be working. The team will allow Harper's progress to set his timetable. If he improves quickly, they will continue increasing his workload at the same pace. 

Mets infielder Justin Turner could be placed on the disabled list.

Turner is dealing with an intercostal issue, which could require him to miss some time. Turner is hitting .266/.307/.330 in 94 at-bats. 

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez has tailed off offensively in June following a strong finish in May. 

Martinez hit .349 (22 for 63) with three home runs, six doubles and 13 RBI over a 17-game stretch from May 13-31. Unfortunately, he hasn't been as strong of a performer in June. He's batting .216 (11 for 51) with one home run, four RBI and 17 strikeouts in 14 games this month.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley heads into Monday's game against the Royals looking to end a hitting slump that has reached multiple weeks. Brantley is batting .177 (11 for 62) in his last 18 games, dropping his season average from .316 to .280. 

Brantley hasn't homered in 24 games and has managed just three RBI through 13 June games. He also has just one extra-base hit in his last 18 games.

Perhaps the Royals are the perfect remedy for Brantley. He's batting .389 (7 for 18) with one triple, two RBI and three doubles in four games against the Royals this season. In 44 career games against Kansas City, Brantley is batting .329 (57 for 173) with an .841 OPS and 22 RBI.

Marlins rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Cardinals for the first time since his promotion April 30. Ozuna received a day off as he's mired in a 1-for-20 slump in his last five games.

"Ozuna is in a little bit of rough patch, probably the first rough patch he has had in the big leagues," manager Mike Redmond said, per MLB.com. "But he's going to be fine. He's still confident. He believes in himself. We believe in him. He's just got to go out there and continue to stick with his approach."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton homered for the second time since his activation off the disabled list Saturday against the Cardinals. He's also hit safely in all five games since coming off the disabled list June 10.

"He looks confident," manager Mike Redmond said, per MLB.com. "He definitely looks different than he did in April, and I think that's confidence. He feels good. He's taken some good swings. He's seen some results. Like any player, that breeds a lot of confidence, and in turn, guys play better."

Stanton is batting .400 (8 for 20) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI since returning to the Marlins' lineup. He has also struck out once in 20 at-bats and hasn't recorded a strikeout in his last four games. Stanton struck out 26 times in his first 20 games before going on the disabled list in late April with a hamstring injury.

"Everything before was off the end of the bat because I wasn't trusting my body and my hands to relax and get through it," Stanton said. "That's why everything was off the end of the bat before."