MLB Player News

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez drove in three runs to help lead the Tigers to a 6-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday.

"The last couple of days," manager Brad Ausmus said of Martinez, per MLB.com. "He looked like he was taking the thought process out of it and just seeing it and hitting it."

Martinez drove in two of the three runs when he connected off Jeff Samardzija in the sixth inning for a two-run home run. He finished the game 2 for 4 and is now batting .258 on the season.

"Unfortunately we have an off day [Monday]," Martinez said, per the Detroit Free Press. "I kind of wish we were playing."

Over his last 10 games, Martinez is 11 for 40 with one home run and three RBI.

Tigers designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes went 3 for 4 at the plate to help lead the Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the White Sox on Sunday.

Cespedes hit his eighth home run of the season when he connected off Jeff Samardzija for a solo shot in the sixth inning. He also drove in another run when he singled in the eighth inning, which drove in Ian Kinsler.

Before his three-hit game Sunday, Cespedes had been hitting .265 with one home run and one RBI in his last nine games.

A nagging back continues to plague Indians left fielder Michael Brantley, who was absent from the Sunday lineup for the second time in five games. He hasn't played in left field since Tuesday.

Brantley has a six-game hitting streak, but just one hit in each of those games.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went yard on Saturday for his 12th home run of the season. His fifth-inning home run, a two-run shot, got the scoring started for Detroit and gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead, on their way to a 7-1 victory over the White Sox.

It was Cabrera's only hit of the game, but he has now hit safely in seven of his last eight games. 

"I thought Miggy's home run kind of let everyone breathe a little easier," manager Brad Ausmus said, per MLB.com. "We've been waiting for this for a long time."

After being pulled from Thursday's loss to the Athletics due to an illness, Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes said he expects to play in Friday's game at the Chicago White Sox, reports MLB.com.

"I threw up, and I felt a little lightheaded," Cespedes said. "But I'm good now."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the starting lineup as a designated hitter and is batting third Thursday against the Royals, per the Northeast Ohio Media Group. It's the fifth time this season he's serving as a designated hitter.

Brantley has at least a hit in 25 of the last 30 games played. He is hitting .299 (35 for 117) with 12 doubles, four homers, 25 RBI and 20 walks over that span.

Cleveland is an underdog (+100) at Kansas City, per VegasInsider.com.

Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was pulled after two innings Thursday against the Athletics due to flu-like symptoms. He was replaced in left field in the top of the third inning by Daniel Fields, who made his MLB debut.

Cespedes struck out in his only at-bat Thursday. He came into Thursday batting .279 with two home runs, four doubles and five RBI in his last 17 games.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, who has been bothered by a sore back throughout the season, was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday against left-hander Jason Vargas and the Royals.

Brantley is a .320 hitter (24 for 75) against left-handed pitchers this season. He has at least a hit in 25 of the last 30 games played. He is hitting .299 (35 for 117) with 12 doubles, four homers, 25 RBI and 20 walks over that span.

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha is struggling mightily during his team's current homestand.

Canha is 3 for 15 during the homestand and went just 1 for 8 in a four-game series against the Yankees. 

"I think I can get a little excited there and try to do too much sometimes," Canha said. "I just need to relax and see the ball."

Canha is hitting .169 in May after hitting an impressive .279 in April. He's also struggling to hit against left-handed pitchers -- which was something his team was looking for him to excel at --going just 5 for 47 this season.

"We really looked at him to be a potential left-handed pitcher killer, and it's really been the opposite for him. All his damage has been against right-handed pitching. I think that'll even out at some point."

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 3 for 4 at the plate in Detroit's 8-6 loss to the Angels on Saturday. Martinez ripped two doubles, pushing his total to 11 on the year, and scored two runs in the contest. 

Martinez is now hitting .266 with 22 RBI in 188 at-bats this season.