MLB Player News

The Twins have recalled INF/OF Chris Colabello from Triple-A Rochester, MLB.com reports. Colabello is hitting a massive .354/.432/.652 in 85 games for Rochester, but the 29-year-old went just 2 for 16 in an MLB stint earlier this year with the Twins.

Twins outfielder Chris Colabello will rejoin the team Friday, the Star Tribune reports. He participated in the Triple-A All-Star Game Wednesday, going 1 for 3 with a double.

Colabello has hit .354/.432/.652 with 24 home runs and 76 RBI in 322 at-bats for Triple-A Rochester. He is 2 for 16 with the Twins.

It's not like Fantasy owners needed more incentive to start Indians catcher Carlos Santana considering he's a top-5 Fantasy catcher (standard formats). But if he produces numbers like he has in the second half the last two seasons, then Santana could threaten to finish the season as the highest-scoring Fantasy catcher.

Santana hit .249 in 71 second-half games in 2011, but he slugged .498. He had two triples, 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 38 RBI and 43 runs.

Santana had similar numbers in the second half last season, but his average rose to .281 in 74 games. He slugged .498 again, while producing two triples, 13 home runs, 14 doubles, 46 RBI and 41 runs.

Fantasy owners vying for a championship would surely like to see those numbers from Santana again down the stretch in 2013.

Here's proper Chris Colabello context: a 12-team AL-only Roto league where the top bats available on the wire are George Kottaras, Jose Molina and Alberto Gonzalez. While he isn't even officially on the team, speculation is that Colabello will be called up Thursday, after participating in the Triple-A All-Star game. 

Colabello managed just two hits over 16 at-bats with the Twins earlier this season, but he's been destroying everything in his path in Triple-A -- hitting .354 with 24 home runs, 24 doubles, and a 1.084 OPS in 85 games. He can play first base, right field (currently looking like Clete Thomas/Ryan Doumit), or DH. There are plenty of at-bats for the taking here, and if Colabello can get hot, in a Shane Spencer-type way, he could stick with the team for the rest of the season, becoming a nice source of power and average. 

It's deep AL-only territory, but it's a smart risk to take, based on the staying power and impact potential Colabello offers. 

Indians infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, who got the start at designated hitter Sunday, was 3 for 5 with two RBI in a 6-4 win over the Royals. He doubled to score Lonnie Chisenhall and Drew Stubbs in the sixth inning to give the Indians the lead for good. 

Cabrera, who also scored a run, is batting .255 with seven homers and 34 RBI over 271 at-bats. 

Indians catcher Carlos Santana reached base four times Sunday during a 6-4 win over the Royals. Santana went 3 for 3 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to five games. 

Santana's double to right field in the third inning drove in Michael Brantley. He's batting .275. 

He's gone 8 for 16 during his streak with two doubles, a triple and three RBI. He has 11 homers and 43 RBI. 

Astros manager Bo Porter said Chris Carter missed Sunday's game against Tampa Bay due to a sore ankle injured Friday, MLB.com reports. 

"He kind of tweaked his ankle a little bit [on Friday night] rounding third base," Porter said. "Yesterday he got treatment and today, with the All-Star break coming up and us having a few more days, it just made sense to let him rest and come back on Friday."

Carter is batting .229 on the year and has gone 6 for 25 (.240) in July with 12 strikeouts in nine games and seven starts. 

Astros outfielder Chris Carter missed a second straight game Sunday to finish the first half of the season in Tampa Bay. That said, Carter insists he's fine, the Houston Chronicle reports. 

Carter had been dealing with a bruised right hand, but he says that isn't keeping him from the lineup. His .229 batting average may be the reason he's not playing much these days. Carter has gone 6 for 25 (.240) in July with 12 strikeouts in nine games and seven starts. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera hit his seventh home run Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Cabrera took an R.A. Dickey knuckleball out for a solo shot. Cabrera finished 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI. He's hitting .251.

Starting for the first time in four games Wednesday due to a hand injury, Astros outfielder Chris Carter went 1 for 3 with two walks and his 18th home run of the season in a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.

Carter also struck out twice to raise his strikeout total to 122, the highest mark in the majors. He owns a .229/.327/.472 line in 284 at-bats.