MLB Player News

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hand) is itching to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, which now could begin Thursday. Cespedes is still on track to be activated for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt provided heroics off the bench once again Tuesday against Arizona, as he went 2 for 2 and hit a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning. 

Belt was hitting just .183/.227/.233 after April 20, his last start, but his three hits in three at-bats off the bench since (he also hit the game-winning single as a pinch hitter Monday) have elevated his line to .222/.261/.317. It still isn't impressive, but it shows just how much a tiny hot streak can impact rate stats at this point of the season.

After going 0 for 3 earlier in the day, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton bounced back with a solid performance in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Twins at Target Field.

Stanton drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the second and singled in one more in the eighth. He also added a double and finished 2 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI in an 8-5 victory.

Stanton has gone 4 for 12 with three runs scored and three RBI in his last three games. He is hitting .200/.333/.255 and has yet to hit one out of the park through his first 55 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt only received one plate appearance Monday, but made it count. 

Belt hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Belt took a Tony Sipp slider to center field, scoring Andres Torres for the game-winning run. Belt has seen his playing time cut recently due to an early season slump. Belt is hitting .197/.239/.246.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes participated in batting practice Monday for the first time since going on the shelf, MLB.com reports. His injured left hand appeared to be a non-issue. 

Cespedes is expected to continue taking swings in Boston before he begins a two-day rehab stint with Triple-A Sacramento Friday. That should put him on track to return to the A's Sunday, when he's eligible to come off the disabled list. 

"If things go well here," manager Bob Melvin said, "we'll get him a couple of games Friday and Saturday. I'm probably getting ahead of myself, but to be here taking batting practice certainly is a step in the right direction."

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson was named Southern League player of the week Monday. Pederson hit .407 (11 for 27) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, seven runs, four walks and three stolen bases in seven games from April 15-21.

After opening the season hitless in the first two games (0 for 7), Pederson has hit safely in his last 15 games. He's batting .318 with a .370 on-base percentage, .682 slugging percentage and 1.052 OPS through 17 games. He also has two triples, five doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI and six stolen bases.

Pederson is considered a top 5 prospect in the Dodgers' system by MLB.com (No. 3) and Baseball America (No. 4).

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will take a few swings during batting practice Monday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Cespedes is hoping to go on a rehab assignment this weekend. He's eligible to be activated from the disabled list Sunday. Cespedes has been sidelined with a hand injury.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is on track to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, according to MLB.com.

Cespedes has been dealing with a hand injury, which has kept him out of the team's lineup. Manager Bob Melvin expects Cespedes to need a few at-bats before he's ready to play in the majors again, so he'll likely play in the minors Friday and Saturday. Cespedes is on pace to be activated Sunday, when he's eligible to come off the disabled list. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter went deep for his second home run of the season during Sunday's series finale against the Phillies.

Carpenter's solo homer came off starter Kyle Kendrick with one out in the opening frame. He finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in a 7-3 victory.

Carpenter is hitting .266/.338/.453 with two home runs and seven RBI in 64 at-bats.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 5 with a pair of singles during a 10-6 loss at Cincinnati on Sunday. Stanton also delivered his first RBI of the season with his run-scoring base hit in the ninth inning.

However, he matched a season high with three strikeouts and has now whiffed at least once in each of the past five games (nine total). Stanton has walked just once in that span and is hitting just .188 on the season.