MLB Player News

Martinez went 3-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer and two runs Sunday against the Rangers.

Martinez has been on fire since returning from the disabled list on August 2, as he's collected 17 hits in 40 at-bats with seven extra-base hits and five RBI, and he's now slashing .303/.372/.548 on the year. From a statistical standpoint, the lefty is enjoying the second-best season of his six-year career, and is in position to help fantasy teams make a playoff push.

Cabrera went 1-for-5 with a solo homer Sunday against the Rangers.

Cabrera is on fire this month, as he's collected multiple hits in seven of his 12 games while leaving the yard four times, raising his slash line to .311/.384/.551 on the year. His 27 bombs on the year are the most he's had since hitting 44 in 2013.

Miller went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo homers in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Yankees.

The new first baseman continues his incredible tear, touching up Masahiro Tanaka in the fourth and sixth frames. Miller has already racked up five homers in August and is slashing .318/.412/.727 over his first 44 at-bats of the month, with five multi-hit efforts, three doubles and 13 RBI.

Brantley (shoulder) will undergo season-ending surgery Monday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal reports.

Brantley visited with a doctor earlier in the week who confirmed he's dealing with a tear in his biceps. The hope was that rest would be enough to allow Brantley to heal to the point that he could play through the ailment toward the end of the season, but he'll now opt for surgery, ending his 2016 campaign after just 11 major league games. The 29-year-old will turn his attention toward rehabbing in advance of the 2017 season.

Choi is out of the lineup for Friday's contest against Cleveland.

Choi will get a regular day off after starting the past three games and seven of the previous eight for the Angels. In his place, Shane Robinson takes over in left while batting ninth.

Miller's career-high 20 homers in 2016 have mostly been over 400 feet, his most extensive power display at any level in his career, Sam Blum of MLB.com reports. "He's got really good hands. He's really strong," Rays hitting coach Derek Shelton said. "What he does with his contact point and where he gets the ball is what enables him to hit the ball hard and get the ball elevated."

Miller has particularly been on a tear over the last two months, during which he's blasted 15 of his 20 round-trippers. The distance on those homers has notably shot up when compared that of the 11 he managed for the Mariners in 2015, which averaged 391 feet with an average exit velocity of 102.8 mph according to Statcast. Those figures have seen a boost to 415 feet and 105.8 mph in 2016, with the former number placing him fifth in the majors behind the likes of sluggers Carlos Gonzalez, Giancarlo Stanton, Trevor Story and Nelson Cruz. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that the has managed to nearly double his HR/FB rate from the 10.3 percent he managed in 2015, currently knocking 20 percent of the pitches he puts in the air out of the park. Although the overall power numbers are certainly a revelation, the Rays were aware they were getting a player with the ability to make hard contact consistently when they acquired Miller, a trait that is keeping him in the lineup despite the recent displacement from his natural shortstop position due to the imminent arrival of newly acquired Matt Duffy. "We did have a lot of confidence and were very optimistic about his bat and his overall play," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "And we've seen that. The actual home run numbers, I think you could say are a little bit of a surprise. He hadn't done that before. I don't know if he's ever hit 20 home runs anywhere."

Brantley's recent consultation with doctors confirmed the diagnosis of biceps tendinitis, MLB.com reports.

The Indians plan on having a clearer path on the next steps for Brantley in the coming days but at this point things aren't trending in a positive direction. A return date when rosters expand in September appears to be the best case scenario at this point.

Vargas went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in the first game of Thursday's double-header against the Astros.

Vargas has been impressive since getting called up on July 4, and kept it going Thursday afternoon by putting his name in the team's record books. He hit a solo homer off Doug Fister in the second while batting left-handed before hitting a two-run homer off lefty Tony Sipp in the eighth batting right-handed. Vargas joins Roy Smalley, Chili Davis and Ryan Doumit as the only Twins to homer from both sides of the plate in one game. The 26-year-old continues seeing spot work this month, but his 1.041 OPS through 77 at-bat's makes Vargas a must-start when he's in the lineup.

Reed is out of the lineup for Thursday's second game against the Twins.

Reed was in the DH spot for the first game, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored in the win over Minnesota. He will spend the second game on the bench, as Jose Altuve takes over at DH while Tyler White mans first.

Martinez went 3-for-7 with his 14th homer of the year in Tuesday's 15-inning loss to the Mariners.

Martinez hasn't missed a beat since returning to the lineup, and has put together 13 multi-hit efforts in a remarkable 20-game stretch dating back to before his elbow injury. Reaching last season's mark of 38 long balls was always going to be a tall order for the 28-year-old right fielder even if he stayed healthy, but topping 20 for a third straight season is still a very achievable goal despite the six-week layoff.