MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Thursday infielder Ryan Goins will get spot starts at second base, shortstop, third base and in the outfield once second baseman Devon Travis comes off the disabled list, per TSN.ca.

Goins has been on a nice run offensively as of late, batting .381 (8 for 21) with one home run, three doubles and nine RBI in his last six games.

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton hasn't done much offensively since his highly anticipated promotion from the minors. Entering play Thursday, he was batting .154 (2 for 13) in four games.

As much as the Twins want to be patient with the 2012 first-round pick, they are in the thick of AL Central race and need Buxton to iron out his swing quickly.

"You bring a kid up without any track record and you're evaluating him on a daily basis," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said, per the Pioneer Press. "I'm not going to tell you he's on a short leash, but I certainly do look for production, just like anybody else.

"He's starting out with a little bit of a shaky approach. Maybe he'll start to adjust and get it going. Hopefully, that'll be the case."

Buxton has made an impact defensively, and he seems confident his offensive game will turn around.

"I'm getting a little bit more comfortable up there," Buxton said. "I'm seeing pitches a little bit better and I'm starting to take a whack at it."

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera launched his 15th home run of the season, a three-run shot off Johnny Cueto in the sixth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Reds. It was Cabrera's only hit of the game, but it gave the Tigers a temporary 3-2 lead in the game.

It was Cabera's fourth home run over his last 10 games, as he continues to rake at the dish this season.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 1 for 4 in Tuesday's loss to Cincinnati. 

The single extended Martinez's hitting streak to 10 games. He's hitting .333 with 1.031 OPS over the streak. 

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes went 1 for 4 in Tuesday's loss to Cincinnati. 

Cespides drove in a run, his 35th of the year, and hit into a double play. 

The single extended Cespedes' hitting streak to 10 games. He's hitting .436 with a 1.117 OPS over the streak. 

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller connected off Tim Lincecum for his sixth home run of season during Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Giants.

The solo shot occurred in the fifth inning. He also drove in another run when he hit a single in the sixth inning, which drove in Kyle Seager. Miller finished the game 2 for 4.

"It felt pretty good," Miller said of his homer, per MLB.com. "I was just trying to get in there and be ready to go from the get-go and I put a good pass on it. He's a pitcher. That's what he does. He mixes, he can throw every pitch and he knows what he's doing up there. You just have to get in there and see something and try to hit it."

Prior to his two-hit game Tuesday, Miller was hitting .257 with one triple and one RBI in his last 11 games.

When the Twins opted to bring top prospect Byron Buxton to the majors over the weekend, some within the organization were suprised by the move, including Buxton's manager at Double-A Chattanooga and former major leaguer Doug Mientkiewicz.

“I don’t think he’s completely ready,” Mientkiewicz told Fox Sports on Monday. “Well, part of me says yes, and part of me says no.

“What I tell my players is we want to cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’.  We want to make sure when you get to the big leagues you stay. None of this shuffling back and forth.

“Definitely, without a question, he was ready to play defense two years ago. Offensively, it’s going to come and go. He’s young. It’s like anybody else. It’s going to take time.

“One thing about the kid -- he can handle it mentally. I hate to say this, but when there is no better alternative, why not? He’s definitely better than anyone they have right now. They’re looking for a spark. When he gets going, he can provide an excitement they haven’t seen in a while.”

Buxton started Sunday and Monday for the Twins. He is 1 for 7 (.143) with one triple, two runs and two strikeouts. He has had eight chances in center field and had putouts on all eight plays.

“I don’t mean any disrespect to the kid at all,” Mientkiewicz said. “There are moments he will do well and moment he won’t. (General manager) Terry (Ryan) understands that. (Manager Paul Molitor) understands that. Molly has called me at least four or five times on him. I love the kid to death. He’s the best we got. Might as well throw him up there.”

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez smacked his 13th home run of season to help lead the Tigers to a 6-0 win over the Reds on Monday.

Martinez hit the two-run shot off Nate Adcock in the sixth inning. He finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Prior to his two-hit game Monday, Martinez was hitting .324 with three home runs and 10 RBI in his last nine games.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 2 for 4 in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Martinez hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He now has 12 home runs and 32 RBI this season. 

Martinez has now hit in eight straight games. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 3 for 4 with three runs scored in Sunday's win over Cleveland. 

Cabrera hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his 14th of the year and second in three days. Cabrera has multiple hits and RBI in each of the last three games. 

Cabrera now has 45 RBI on the year.