MLB Player News

As Twins center fielder Byron Buxton continues to make his way back from a thumb injury, the team is not taking any chances on rushing his recovery, reports the StarTribune.

"When you [get ready to come back], you're going to do it conservatively," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It's a process. We talked about [being out] 4-6 weeks, and it looks like it's going to be all that before he gets a chance to play."

Buxton has been out since June 23 with a left thumb injury and has been cleared to begin baseball activities.

If the Tigers needed a kick-start Saturday against the host Red Sox, left fielder Yoenis Cespedes certainly gave it to them. He homered in the first inning and his team remained ahead the rest of the way.

Cespedes didn't get another hit, but his blast was his 15th of the season and fifth since July 6. His slash line now rests at .287/.319/.488.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller isn't in the starting lineup on Saturday, after starting 69 games at short this season. 

Chris Taylor gets his 24th start, and his second in the last three games. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is progressing well from the calf injury that landed him on the 15-day disabled list, per The Detroit News.

Cabrera has been cleared for light baseball activities. He took throws and some swings in a light batting practice session on Friday.

"Feeling better," Cabrera said. "Making progress. Hopefully it will be soon I can get on the field and try to do some baseball activities."

The Grade 3 calf strain Cabrera suffered is likely to keep him out of the lineup until late August, but he isn't sticking strictly to the timetable.

"I want to say my body will tell me," Cabrera said. "Hopefully I can make good progress. I don't want to say six weeks or eight weeks. I want to see how it feels every day and when I am ready to play I want to say, 'I'm ready to go.' That's my mind(set).

"These injuries can take a long time. Hopefully it can be soon."

Twins outfielder Byron Buxton began baseball activities before Friday's game, per MLB.com.

Buxton is on the 15-day disabled list with a thumb injury. 

Manager Paul Molitor said that Buxton fielded ground balls and fly balls in the outfield. He also took swings underwater.

It took a few months and a healthier back, but the 2015 version of Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is finally starting to look like the 2014 edition that placed third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Brantley continued his rampage Wednesday with his first four-hit game since April 25. He fell only a triple short of the cycle in battering the Brewers.

The hits came consecutively. Brantley blasted a three-run homer in the third to knot the score at 4-4. His RBI single in the fifth gave his team the lead for good. He doubled and scored in the seventh and singled in the ninth.

Brantley has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games and is batting .415 (17-for-41) during that stretch. His .302 average is at its highest point since June 19.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 2 for 5 with three runs scored in Tuesday's loss to Seattle. 

Martinez continued his power surge. He hit his 27th home run of the year and his seventh in the month of July. 

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to Seattle. 

Cespedes went 1 for 4 and snapped a six-game homer drought with his 14th of the year. 

Twins outfielder Byron Buxton will be reevaluated in the next few days and may return to baseball activities by this weekend, per MLB.com.

Buxton is on the 15-day disabled list with a thumb injury.

Buxton missed time in his rehab following the death of his aunt. He is expected to return from Georgia on Wednesday, per the Pioneer Press.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley went 1 for 3 with three walks and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Reds.

Brantley is hitting .364 with 12 hits, three doubles, two home runs, six walks and nine RBI over his last nine games.