MLB Player News

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley filled up the box score in Wednesday's victory over the Rangers. Brantley reached base in all of his plate appearances, going 2 for 2, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

Brantley lifted his season average up to .313 and has hit safely in eight of his last 11 games. 

With the Indians ahead with a comfortable lead, manager Terry Francona decided to remove Brantley from the game in the top of the seventh. Brantley has had just one day off since the middle of April, so this was an opportune time to get him some rest.

After starting eight games in a row, Mariners shortstop Chris Taylor will get the day off on Wednesday, as he is being held out of the lineup versus the Rays. In those eight games, the young Taylor has just six hits in 28 at-bats. So manager Lloyd McClendon has decided to give him a rest and clear his head a little.

Brad Miller will get the start at shortstop with Dustin Ackley entering the lineup in left field for the afternoon affair. 

Twins DH Kennys Vargas has been crushing the baseball following his demotion to Triple-A Rochester. Vargas homered for the third time in six games Monday.

He has a .409/.458/.864/1.322 slash line since joining the Rochester lineup. He has hit safely in all but one game. He also has one double, two walks, five strikeouts, six walks and six runs.

Vargas was demoted to the minors last week after batting .248 with three home runs, 10 RBI and 30 strikeouts in 29 games for Minnesota.

David Murphy will step into the DH role on Monday as the Indians face the Rangers, just the second time in nine games that Murphy will be in that role. 

Murphy will hit fifth in Cleveland's lineup against Texas starter Phil Klein. He has only faced Klein once, but has a hit in that lone at-bat. Murphy is hitting .529 with two doubles and two RBIs from the five-hole. 

Two other Indians starters, Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley, have also just faced Klein once, and both have hit solo home runs against the pitcher. 

First baseman Miguel Cabrera was not in the Tigers lineup Monday, the first time all season the slugger has not started. Cabrera will be replaced at first base by Hernan Perez.

Manager Brad Ausmus said that Cabrera's ankle has been cranky the last few days, making Monday a good time to give the slugger an off-day following the team's flight to Oakland, the Detroit Free Press reports. He is available as a pinch-hitter against the A's.

"Just give him a day mentally," said Ausmus when asked if he considered tabbing Cabrera as the designated hitter, per MLive.com. "His ankle has been a little cranky the last few days, so it's a good time. Especially after the flight."

In addition, rookie shortstop Dixon Machado will make the first start of his MLB career and hit ninth for the Tigers. Machado was called up from Triple-A on Sunday as Jose Iglesias battles a sore knee. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 5 at the plate in Detroit's 10-8 loss to the Astros on Sunday.

Cabrera did his damage in the ninth inning when he crushed the first pitch he saw from Luke Gregerson over the left center field wall for a solo home run, his 11th of the season.

Cabrera is now hitting .344 with 32 RBI in 163 at-bats this season.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha hit a three-run home run to help lead Oakland past Tampa Bay on Sunday. 

Canha went 2 for 3 with a walk. The homer was his sixth of the year and first since May 9. He added his fourth double of the season and reached 18 RBI on the year. 

Blue Jays shortstop Ryan Goins hit his first home run since April 23 of last season in Sunday's win over Seattle.

Goins hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, as the Blue Jays pulled in front to stay. He drove in a total of three runs on the day, giving him 11 for the year. 

Goins went 1 for 2 with two walks. 

Robinson Cano gets a day off from the field on Sunday for the first time this season. After starting the first 42 games for the Mariners at second base, Cano is in the lineup as DH. 

Brad Miller replaces Cano at second base, batting leadoff. 

"He played second in spring training quite a bit," McClendon said to The News Tribune. "If you can play short, you can play second. Is he the greatest second baseman in the world? No. But he'll make the plays. He'll be fine."

The Mariners also started Welington Castillo at catcher for the second time this year, giving Mike Zunino a rest. 

Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias is out of the lineup for Sunday's game with a sore knee. An MRI and X-ray showed no structural damage, and he's considered day-to-day, per MLive.

Andrew Romine replaces Iglesias at short.

The Tigers also gave catcher James McCann a rest. starting Bryan Holaday behind the plate.

J.D. Martinez moves to DH, replaced in right by Rajai Davis.