MLB Player News

The Indians were blanked in a doubleheader Sunday for the first time in 40 years, but left fielder Michael Brantley was like a radio disc jockey - he was cranking out the hits.

Brantley managed three singles in eight at-bats in an otherwise horrible day for his team. His current four-game hitting streak ended a 2-for-19 slide and left his slash line at .294/.367/.429. But he has not homered since May 14.

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes went 0 for 4 in Sunday's win over the White Sox. 

Cespedes also committed his fifth error of the season. 

The hitless day ended an eight-game hitting streak for Cespedes. He hit .323 with .914 OPS over the streak. 

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 3 for 4 in Friday's win over the Angels. 

Miller had two doubles, recording his first extra base hits in nine games. He also drove in his 20th run of the season and second in the last three games.

Miller now has 11 doubles on the year. 

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, breaking a tie with his 19th homer of the year. 

The solo shot gave Martinez home runs in each of his last three games and six homers in the last five games. 

"It just feels like I'm getting maybe one hit a game, but it just happens to be a home run," Martinez said. "It's one of those things right now where I can't explain it. You just hit a ball, and it's a home run. It's weird."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 3 for 4 in Friday's win over Chicago. 

Cabrera hit three doubles, giving him 16 for the season. He also drove in his 53rd run. 

"He's the best hitter in the game. You try to limit what's going on," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Cabrera. "You try to keep him in the yard. It's hard to do. It sounds crazy, but if he just hits a single, you're like, 'OK, we'll work with that.' And he didn't hit too many singles. He doesn't hit too many singles

Cabrera has hit in five straight games, with multi-hit games in four of them. He's 10 for his last 20. 

Twins manager Paul Molitor mentioned that rookie center fielder Byron Buxton is expected to miss about 4-6 weeks with a sprained left thumb, according to MLB.com. 

Buxton was added to the disabled list on Friday, after he injured the thumb attempting to steal during Thursday's game. 

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez homered for the second straight game and fifth time in four games during an 8-7 loss to the White Sox on Thursday. Martinez connected for a two-run homer off Carlos Rodon in the fifth inning.

Martinez, who has 18 home runs, has homered nine times since June 7. He is batting .333 (19 for 57) with an .842 slugging percentage, 1.219 OPS, two doubles, 22 RBI, 10 runs, three walks and 10 strikeouts in his last 15 games.

The Twins made the surprising announcement Friday that rookie center fielder Byron Buxton was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a left thumb sprain, which he suffered Tuesday against the White Sox while attempting to steal second base.

Twins manager Paul Molitor told Go 96.3 FM that Buxton will likely be out longer than the minimum 15 days on the disabled list.

"(Buxton) is going to have to back off a while, probably at least a month," Molitor said.

The Twins recalled Danny Santana from Triple-A Rochester to replace Buxton, who is batting .189 (7 for 37) with no home runs, no RBI, five runs, two walks, 15 strikeouts and one stolen base in 11 games since his highly anticipated promotion from the minors.

Buxton entered the season as the top prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. Baseball America had him ranked as the second-best prospect.

If Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez isn't going to slug his team to victory, he's at least going to put a dent in the stat line of an opposing pitcher.

Martinez mashed his fourth home run in three games Wednesday and wrecked the shutout of Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco in the process. His towering two-run blast in the seventh inning landed over the wall in left field.

He is batting .350 (14-for-40) over his last 10 games with a whopping 16 RBI. He now has 17 homers and 43 RBI on the year.

Twins rookie center fielder Byron Buxton was moved to the leadoff spot for the second time in three games Wednesday against the White Sox.

Monday was the first time since his promotion from the minors he hit leadoff. Buxton stepped up in a big way, going 3 for 5 with three runs.

Buxton has hit safely in his last three games, going 5 for 11 (.455) with one double, three runs, three strikeouts and one stolen base.