MLB Player News

Miller received a vote of confidence from manager Kevin Cash despite an 0-for-16 start, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The offseason acquisition from the Mariners finally broke the ice Sunday by doubling in his last at-bat versus the Orioles, but Cash is relying on Miller's overall body of work since arriving in Tampa to support his belief that he'll turn things around. "I know he and (hitting coach Derek Shelton) have worked on a couple things to get his timing going," Cash said. "I really like the way he's handled the shortstop position. He hit the ball really well in spring training, a lot of hard contact. That's going to come. He just got off to a little bit of a slow start." Miller is slashing an anemic .059/.118/.158 line over 17 at-bats so far in 2016.

Brantley (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus.

The Indians have kept mum regarding Brantley's rehab assignment, but an official start date has now been announced. It's not clear how many rehab games he will need before joining the big club, but he can spend up to 20 days in the minors, and the Indians figure to give him ample time to get his stamina and swing back after Brantley was limited to just two official spring training games.

Colon started at second base and went 1-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's win over Minnesota.

It was Colon's first start and first game of the season. He'll get occasional starts at second base behind Omar Infante.

Goins went 2-for-2 with a walk and a double in Sunday's win over the Red Sox.

He's never going to supply much power, but Goins has made effective contact through the early part of the season, putting up a .286/.318/.333 slash line in 21 at-bats. He should have a lock on the Jays' starting second base job until Devon Travis (shoulder) is healthy, but don't expect too much production from him.

Branley (shoulder) continues to make progress in his workouts but there still is no firm timetable for the start of his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports. "He's feeling really good, so that's good. There's nothing to announce [about his game schedule]. We'll let the trainers talk to him and see what the next move is," manager Terry Francona said.

He's most certainly out for the upcoming week and likely won't return until the end of April as he works his way back from shoulder surgery.

Buxton is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.

The Twins will be lefty-heavy Saturday against righty Ian Kennedy, who is making his season debut after having his first start pushed back due to hamstring tightness. Buxton is always an option to come in as a pinch runner if the situation calls for it, but he shouldn't be counted upon in fantasy lineups Saturday. The switch-hitting Danny Santana will take Buxton's post in center field.

Cabrera was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI against the Yankees on Friday afternoon.

He's off to a solid start, hitting .385 with a homer and three RBI. And, with Justin Upton, Victor Martinez, and J.D. Martinez surrounding him in the lineup, it could be a very good year.

Choi is starting at first base and hitting seventh in Friday's game against the Rangers.

This is his first start of the year, and it comes in a favorable spot for the lefty hitter against righty A.J. Griffin. C.J. Cron figures to get most of the starts at first base this year for the Angels, but if Choi impresses, he could work his way into a part-time role.

Brantley (shoulder) still has no timetable on when he'll head out on a rehab assignment and may not be back with the Indians until the end of April, MLB.com reports.

Brantley's headed to Triple-A Columbus this weekend to workout but will not get into any games. Brantley didn't suffer any setbacks this spring but did have some lingering soreness once he tried to ramp things up for the start of the regular season so expect the Indians to tread with some caution here as he works his way back from offseason surgery.

Buxton went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Wednesday's loss at Baltimore.

Buxton was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in his first game, which is a worry since he struggled to make contact last season (just 66 percent contact rate and a 44:6 K:BB ratio in 129 at-bats). Buxton is hitting ninth in the order and could move to leadoff if he shows more command of the strike zone.