MLB Player News

Martinez (foot) is starting in right field and batting fifth against the Indians.

Martinez was lifted from Thursday's game after he fouled a ball off his left foot, but it appears his removal was simply precautionary as he's back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against Cleveland. The 29-year-old is slashing .294/.382/.634 with 13 homers in 44 games this season.

Martinez was lifted from Thursday's game as a precaution after he fouled a ball off his left foot in the seventh inning, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Following a tenacious 15-pitch at-bat which ended with an RBI single, Martinez was substituted out of the game for pinch runner Matt den Dekker. Manager Brad Ausmus later said the premature exit was a precautionary measure, especially considering the slugger missed the beginning of the season with the exact same type of injury. Martinez is hitting .309/.365/.585 with 10 RBI in June and figures to be back in the lineup when the Tigers begin a weekend series with the Indians on Friday.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Royals.

The 34-year-old has now homered in back-to-back games to give him 10 on the year. Cabrera's recent power surge hasn't been buttressed by his usual high batting average, however, and he's hitting only .220 (11-for-50) over his last 13 games despite five home runs, nine runs and nine RBI. The future Hall of Famer hasn't hit below .300 since he posted a .292 average in 2008, his first season in Detroit, but that streak appears to be in serious jeopardy unless he can put together a huge second half.

Buxton is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Buxton's base knock Tuesday gave him just his second hit in 21 at-bats over the last six games, leaving his average at an even .200 for the season. It appears his absence from the lineup Wednesday is just a routine day off, but Buxton may need to turn things around quickly if he hopes to avoid a demotion to the minors. Max Kepler will pick up the start in center field in Buxton's stead Wednesday.

Soler was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Soler initially took on an everyday role in the Kansas City outfield when he was activated from the disabled list in early May, but he could be ticketed for reserve duty this time around with Jorge Bonifacio having since emerged as manager Ned Yost's preferred option in right field. After batting just .164 in his first go-round with the Royals, Soler was able to get on track during his stint in the minors, compiling a .324/.453/.667 slash line across 137 plate appearances at Omaha. He'll need to carry that success over to the majors for an extended period before the Royals and fantasy owners alike can be more bullish about his long-term outlook.

Brantley (ankle) went 1-for-4 Tuesday against the Rangers in his first game back from his time on the disabled list.

Brantley has been out since June 15 due to stints on both the paternity list and disabled list, but was able to hit a single in his return to action. The left fielder's return will provide consistency for Cleveland's outfield, which just recently saw Brandon Guyer (wrist) return from injury while both Abraham Almonte (biceps) and Austin Jackson (quad) remain out.

Martinez went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Royals.

He's hitting .322 (28-for-87) in June and now has 13 homers in 42 games on the year, a pace that has Martinez targeting his first 40-homer campaign despite missing the first six weeks of the season with a foot injury.

Brantley is back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Rangers, batting third and playing left field.

It will mark Brantley's first game action since June 14, as the All-Star outfielder has been sidelined with an ankle sprain. The lefty is having a productive comeback season, batting .295 with 28 RBI and a .792 OPS over 54 games.

Brantley (ankle) isn't included in the lineup Monday against the Rangers.

It doesn't appear that Brantley suffered an unexpected setback with his sprained right ankle after being activated from the disabled list earlier Monday. Instead, the Twins are likely just keeping Brantley available off the bench in order to get an extra right-handed bat in the lineup against a tough lefty in the Rangers' Cole Hamels. Brandon Guyer (wrist), who was also activated from the DL on Monday, will fill Brantley's normal spot in left field.

Brantley was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list Monday.

Brantley hasn't played since June 14 while recovering from a sprained right ankle, but he seems good to go after completing some batting and running drills. The veteran outfielder will likely return to the Indians' outfield when they open up a four-game set with the Rangers on Monday, looking to build on his .296/.360/.432 slash line. Daniel Robertson and Shawn Armstrong were optioned to Triple-A in corresponding moves.