MLB Player News

Buxton will remain in Minnesota on Monday so he can undergo an MRI on his sore right knee, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

The team currently has an optimistic outlook about their young outfielder's ailment, but Buxton will undergo further tests nonetheless to ensure nothing more serious is hidden. As long as the results come back clean, which is the expected outcome, Buxton should be able to rejoin the team in Cleveland later in the week.

The Twins diagnosed Buxton with a sore right knee following his departure in the third inning of Sunday's game against the White Sox, LaVelle Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Buxton is being labeled as day-to-day, and although his injury appears minor, it may be more of a setback for the outfielder than most players. He had already hurt the same knee twice in one week after banging into the outfield wall prior to the All-Star break, so the fact that the right knee is bothering him again just over two weeks later is somewhat discouraging. The Twins may be inclined to give Buxton a few days off to rest the injury, in which case Robbie Grossman, Danny Santana or Eddie Rosario, who replaced Buxton on Sunday, could see more action in center field.

Buxton appeared to tweak his leg while running the bases in Sunday's game against the White Sox. He was removed from the contest in the top of the third inning.

After walking during his lone plate appearance in the second inning, Buxton easily stole second base, but not before injuring himself in the process. Though he was initially able to stay in the game, he was clearly hobbled as he ran to third base on a ground ball and was replaced at the top half of the next inning by Eddie Rosario. The Twins should have a formal diagnosis of Buxton's condition after the game.

Martinez (elbow) is expected to be activated from the disabled list before the Tigers' homestand concludes Aug. 7, Matthew Mowery of The Oakland Press reports. "[Martinez is] getting close. He's going to DH again [Saturday]," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Like I said, it wouldn't be a shock to me if we saw him before the end of this homestand. I'd actually be more surprised if we didn't see him before the end of the homestand."

Martinez's elbow still presents pain for him while throwing, so he has yet to see any time in the outfield during his rehab stint with Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers utilize Victor Martinez as a full-time DH, so J.D. Martinez may need to prove that he can defend his position capably before the team activates him. In any event, Martinez's return seems forthcoming, so he's worth stashing in just about any format if he was dropped after suffering the injury back in mid-June.

Miller went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Yankees.

The 26-year-old shortstop got the Rays' scoring started with a 423-foot solo shot to center in the first. Miller's homer totals have increased with each subsequent month this season and his 16 round-trippers on the season are easily a career high. He also has three straight two-hit efforts and a four-game hitting streak overall.

Vargas is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox, Brandon Warne of ColdOmahaMN reports.

Vargas is getting his second game off in Minnesota's last two as recent call-up Jorge Polanco fills in at DH, batting seventh. Currently in the midst of a six game-hit streak, Vargas has slashed .318/.407/.455 with three runs and four RBI during that span.

Miller went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and two runs in Friday's 5-1 victory over the Yankees.

The 26-year-old shortstop was making some impactful contact against Yankees starter Ivan Nova, with the three-bagger representing his fifth of the season overall. Miller has hit safely in four of the last five contests as well and has consecutive multi-hit efforts. While he's still hitting a rather middling .250, he's picked it up in the power department over the last several weeks, tallying 10 homers since June 11 while also posting 22 of his 37 RBI since June 1.

Martinez (elbow) will start at DH for Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press reports.

Martinez has gone 4-for-10 in his first two rehab assignment games and will be back out there in the DH role Friday against Triple-A Gwinnett. He's yet to advance to playing in the outfield during an outing but that will likely occur in the coming days. Pending any setbacks, the 28-year-old is still projecting to return to the Tigers in early August.

Martinez (elbow) was throwing from 220 feet Friday, but felt a little sore after the workout as he remains on the disabled list, Tony Paul of DetroitNews.com reports.

There was the slight chance that Martinez could play in the outfield for Triple-A Toledo's game on Friday, but the team isn't taking any chances and will keep him in the DH spot for now. Manager Brad Ausmus said that he could return before the end of the team's homestand, which continues through August 7. Chances are that he will be back before then, and could be back in the lineup as a right fielder within the next couple days.

Brantley took some swings from a pitching machine Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's a step in the right direction for Brantley who has had a tumultuous return from shoulder discomfort that's sidelined him since early May. There's likely to be an update on the 28-year-old's progress in the coming days after he sees how he feels following the hitting session.