MLB Player News

Miller went 3-for-4 with an RBI single, a walk and two runs in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Indians.

Miller has essentially been mired in a season-long funk, and was hitting just .100 (4-for-40) in May coming into Monday. The three-hit effort was only the infielder's second of the season, with the first having come back on April 14. Miller has been able to salvage what has been a forgettable season at the plate thus far by walking at a career-high 18.4 percent clip, which has helped lead to a .350 OBP. However, after a career-best 65 extra-base hits in 2016 -- which included 30 homers -- the 27-year-old's ISO is currently a career-worst .113.

Vargas went 1-for-4 with a two-run double during Sunday's loss to Cleveland.

Dating back to last season, Vargas owns a .507 slugging percentage with 13 doubles and 14 home runs through just 231 plate appearances, so there's plenty of power upside here. He's also settled into the heart of the Minnesota lineup over the past six games and drove in seven runs. If Vargas can maintain -- or even improve -- his current 25.9 strikeout percentage, he'll be a solid source of home runs and RBI going forward. It's probably wise to keep expectations for batting average in check, but his fantasy stock is on the rise nonetheless.

Martinez went 3-for-4 with three RBI from a go-ahead solo home run and a two-run shot in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Angels.

The slugging outfielder made his presence felt in only his second game of the season, snapping a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth with a 381-foot solo shot that would prove to be the game-winner. Martinez had taken Angels starter Ricky Nolasco deep with Victor Martinez aboard in the second as well for his first round tripper of the season. The 29-year-old's bat has been missed as he recovered from a foot injury over the first several weeks of the season, but if Saturday's effort is any indication, he appears ready to contribute his customary level of production.

Miller is out of the lineup Saturday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He is in a pretty big funk to start the year, hitting .195/.342/.317 with two home runs and three steals in 152 plate appearances. While it is not encouraging to see him benched for the second time in three games, it makes sense to sit the lefty-hitting second baseman against dominant southpaw Chris Sale. Daniel Robertson will start at second base and hit second.

Martinez is batting sixth and playing right field in his season debut Friday against the Angels.

After rehabbing a foot injury for the first month and a half of the season, Martinez will finally take back over in right field for Detroit. He went just 4-for-23 during his rehab assignment, but he did hit a home run in his final tuneup Thursday. He'll hit sixth for the time being, but he could move up in the order if Justin Upton starts to struggle.

Brantley (ankle) is back in the lineup Friday against the Twins.

Brantley injured his ankle last weekend but it seems four full days of rest -- including Thursday's team off day -- provided sufficient maintenance. He is slated to return to left field and the three-hole to face right-hander Ervin Santana, and while Brantley has enjoyed limited success against Santana in the past (8-for-33), he is beating up on right-handed pitching to the tune of a .297/348/.547 line this season.

Martinez (foot) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday.

Martinez's rehab at Triple-A Toledo was deemed sufficient with Jim Adduci's impending DL placement due to a strained oblique creating an opening on the Tigers' roster. Fantasy owners should follow suit and click JDM back into their lineups.

Martinez (foot) will make his season debut with the Tigers on Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

His rehab timetable was cut short with the placement of Jim Aducci (strained right oblique) on the 10-day disabled list. Martinez went 1-for-14 with Triple-A Toledo, but the one hit was a home run Thursday. Fantasy players should throw him back in their lineups as soon as possible.

Canha went 2-for-4 with a run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Angels.

The 28-year-old had been jettisoned to Triple-A Nashville earlier in the season due to his struggles at the plate, so Wednesday's production was a step in the right direction with respect to his second big-league go-around of 2017. Canha hit just .242 over 81 plate appearances in the minors, but his nine extra-base hits (four doubles, five home runs) and 10 walks helped lead to a serviceable .358 OBP. He's expected to resume the platoon role in right field that he opened the season in, and will look to get back to the type of production he flashed in a rookie 2015 campaign during which he generated 41 extra-base hits (22 doubles, three triples, 16 homers) and 70 RBI.

Martinez (foot) is "50/50" to rejoin the Tigers sometime during the coming weekend, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The outfielder is serving as designated hitter for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, and despite his 0-for-11 stretch with the Mud Hens so far, his workload is considered a sign that he's ready to resurface for his fantasy owners. Those in daily transaction fantasy leagues -- or those allowed to make changes Friday -- should prepare to slide him into their lineups.