MLB Player News

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus decided to shake up his lineup Friday against the Blue Jays, as catcher Alex Avila returned from the disabled list and with Detroit also looking to end a three-game losing streak.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler moved into the leadoff spot for just the second time this season and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes hit second for the first time. 

Anthony Gose, who has hit leadoff a team-high 48 times this season, moved down to the eighth spot in the lineup.

Avila hit sixth upon his activation from the disabled list.

Although Chris Taylor started at shortstop Thursday immediately following his recall from the minors, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Brad Miller will remain the starting shortstop, per MLB.com.

"Brad is in a pretty good groove right now," McClendon said. "There's still a lot of room for improvement, but he is improving every day. He has his moments [defensively], but most of the time it's just a mechanical thing where he doesn't move through the ball or he stands straight up. I would say the last 12-15 days, he's been a lot better at that."

Taylor will serve as a backup middle infielder and could get some playing time at other positions as well.

"It's still a progression, but I'm feeling a lot more comfortable and a lot better [at the plate]," Taylor said. "It was good to go down there and take some of the pressure off. I was able to stop pressing and just worry about going out there and having some fun again. I'm feeling a lot better now and I'm ready to go."

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller was held out of the starting lineup Thursday against the Athletics for the first time in 18 games and just the fourth time since May 24. Chris Taylor, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, replaced Miller in the starting lineup at shortstop.

Since June 1, Miller is batting .256 with one triple, two home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, eight runs, 10 walks, 19 strikeouts and three stolen bases in his last 27 games.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez slugged a three-run home run on Thursday, but it wasn't enough to avoid the 8-4 loss to the Pirates. Martinez's eighth-inning blast, his 21st of the season, cut the Pirates' lead to 4-3. But Pittsburgh would put up a four-spot in the ninth inning, keeping the Tigers at bay.

Martinez now has eight home runs in his last nine games, and he is batting .359 with 16 RBI over that stretch. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley drove in two runs Thursday to help lead the team to a 5-4 win over the Rays.

Brantley drove in one run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth and then hit a single in the fifth to drive in Jason Kipnis. He finished the game 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Prior to Thursday's win, Brantley was hitting .267 with two doubles and four RBI in his last 11 games.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 3 for 4 in Wednesday's loss to the Pirates.

Martinez is hitting .372 with 16 hits, seven home runs and 14 RBI over his last 10 games.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez hit a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning, sending Tuesday's game to extras. The Tigers eventually lost in 14.

Martinez hit his 20th homer of the year. He's homered in four of the last five games and has seven homers in the last seven. 

Martinez went 3 for 6 with two runs scored. 

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 2 for 4 at the plate during Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Padres.

His biggest hit came in the fourth inning when he hit a two-run home run off Ian Kennedy. It was his seventh home run of the season.

Prior to his two-hit game Tuesday, Miller was batting .211 with two doubles and three RBI in his last 11 games.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 3 for 4 at the plate during Monday's 7-1 win over the Rays.

Brantley scored one run and drove in a run when he singled in Jason Kipnis in the first inning. He also walked once.

Prior to his three-hit game Monday, Brantley was hitting .219 with one double and two RBI in his last eight games.

Blue Jays utility player Ryan Goins drew his second start this season in left field on Monday against the Red Sox. He has also made 26 starts at second base and 26 starts at shortstop.

Since batting .429 (6 for 14) with one home run, three doubles and nine RBI in a three-game span from June 12-14, Goins is batting just .148 (4 for 27) with no extra-base hits and one RBI in his last 11 games.