MLB Player News

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who injured his hand Friday on a head-first slide into second, underwent X-rays that came back negative, the Contra Costa Times reports.

Cespedes suffered the injury in the web of his left hand between his thumb and index finger. He was OK to play in the field, but had trouble batting.

Cespedes is considered day to day.

Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes was removed from Friday's game in extra innings with an apparent hand injury.

Cespedes was looked at by trainers after injuring himself on a head-first slide into second base but remained in the game at that point. However, he was removed in favor of a pinch hitter when his next turn at the plate came around. He finished the game 0 for 2 with two walks.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton missed Friday's game against the Phillies and has already been ruled out for Saturday due to a sore left shoulder. Stanton suffered the injury last Saturday against the Mets in New York.

“I wasn’t too sure if it was the weather or that dive. But it has been escalating,’’ he told the Palm Beach Post after Friday's game.

Stanton has been dealing with the soreness for a few days and said it got worse during warm-ups Friday. He is set to undergo an MRI Saturday that could reveal the extent of the injury. He might be forced to sit out Sunday's series finale as well. 

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen broke a 5-5 tie with a seventh-inning solo home run in his team's 6-5 win over the Reds Friday night. He also had a two-RBI single in the second inning to up his average to .265 with the 2-for-4 game.

The Marlins scratched outfielder Giancarlo Stanton from the lineup Friday against the Phillies less than an hour prior to first pitch, due to left shoulder soreness. He was replaced at right field by Austin Kearns. 

At this point, there is not much information about the extent of the injury, though the team will likely provide an update during the game. Stanton should be considered day to day at this point. Stanton is currently struggling to begin the season, batting just 5 for 30 through the first nine games, and a shoulder injury will likely not help matters. 

San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt extended his hitting streak to three games Friday during the Giants' 4-3 loss to the Cubs. Belt went 1 for 4 with a two-run double in the ninth inning that gave San Francisco a one-run lead that was ultimately short-lived.

The two RBI represents his first of the season as he had been limited by an illness that has plagued him since spring training. Belt has still amassed more strikeouts (nine) than hits and walks (seven) for a .167 batting average.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper registered his third consecutive multi-hit performance and walked twice -- his first free passes of the season -- during Washington's 7-4 victory over the White Sox on Thursday night. Harper finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and drove in two runs to give him an RBI in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The 20-year-old phenom has notched multiple hits in all but two of his nine games played to stake a .417 batting average -- the third-highest mark in the National League.

Twins first base prospect Kennys Vargas is slugging .500 through six games for Class A Fort Myers. The 22-year-old infielder has a home run, three doubles and three RBI.

In 165 career games, Vargas is batting .307 with a .386 on-base percentage, .509 slugging percentage and .895 OPS. He is not ranked among the Twins' top-20 prospects by MLB.com, but Baseball America considers Vargas the team's 29th-best prospect.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera stole his first base of the season Thursday.

Cabrera walked in the first inning and was able to steal third on a distracted Josh Johnson. Cabrera was 1 for 4 with a triple, run scored and an RBI. Cabrera stole four bases last season.

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler was suspended five games for a bat-wielding incident Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Soler is batting .435 (10 for 23) with two homers and four RBI in six games for Class A Daytona.