MLB Player News

Perhaps unsurpisingly, Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar was not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Tigers. Escobar left Wednesday's game against the Indians after being hit by a pitch in the face and has been diagnosed with a left cheek contusion.

Christian Colon made the start at shortstop on Thursday. Colon has had limited playing time in 2015 and is hitting .269 (7 for 26) with a double and a stolen base.

Left fielder Alex Gordon will move up to the leadoff spot in the lineup for the first time this season. Escobar has been the Royals' leadoff hitter in all but two games in 2015. Gordon is currently ranked ninth in the American League with a .413 on-base percentage. 

Escobar is hoping to return to the Royals lineup on Friday or Saturday, according to the Kansas City Star

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha will return to the starting lineup and bat seventh Thursday afternoon against the Angels. Canha was sidelined since Friday after he was held without a hit over his last nine at-bats. He is hitting .250 (16 for 64) with one home run and seven RBI in 16 games.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez only contributed one hit to the slugfest Wednesday in Minnesota. But it was one heck of a hit.

Martinez smashed one of four Detroit home runs in the victory. His solo blast in a four-run sixth that tied the game landed over the fence in left.

He has six home runs and 15 RBI on the year and a fine .545 slugging percentage.

If it was just about anyone else, it would be a ridiculous day at the plate. But what Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera did Wednesday has become practically mundane for him.

Cabrera went 3-for-4 (yawn). What made his afternoon in Minnesota exceptional was that he slammed two home runs to give him five on the season and three in the last four games.

His explosion started slowly with a mere run-scoring double in the fourth inning. He then rocketed a 446-foot blast to center in the sixth and a 430-foot shot to center in the ninth. By the time the dust settled, his slash line stood at .370/.453/.630.

Cabrera has 17 RBI on the year.

Twins' Kennys Vargas returned to the starting lineup at first base Wednesday afternoon against Detroit. Vargas is mired in a 2-for-28 slump and was held out of the lineup the past three games. He is hitting just .161 with a home run in 56 at-bats this season.

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday after getting a third day off Tuesday, according to 1500 ESPN.

Vargas has been out of the lineup since Sunday, with Eduardo Nunez taking over the DH role. Vargas has been in a bit of a slump and manager Paul Molitor has been pushing for Vargas to work on his pitch recognition. He is hitting just .161 with a home run in 56 at-bats this season.

Blue Jays infielders Ryan Goins and Jonathan Diaz will platoon at shortstop in the absence of Jose Reyes, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a rib injury, per MLB.com.

Goins got the start at shortstop Tuesday at Boston. Diaz was called up from the minors Monday after Reyes was placed on the disabled list.

Blue Jays infielder Ryan Goins will start at shortstop Tuesday for the injured Jose Reyes, the team announced. Goins fills in for Reyes, who was placed on the 15-day DL Monday with a rib injury. Goins is hitting .238 in 21 at-bats this season.

Outfielder Dalton Pompey is out of the lineup, with Danny Valencia taking over in left field and Kevin Pillar playing center. 

Pompey told Sportsnet.ca he suffered a bit of whiplash making a catch Monday at Boston.

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hit a three-run home run to propel the Tigers to a 5-4 win over the Twins on Monday.

Cespedes connected off pitcher Tommy Milone in the first inning for a three-run home run. It was his fourth home run of the season. He finished the game 2 for 4 with one strike out. He is now hitting .303.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 3 for 4 in Sunday's win over Cleveland. Cabrera drove in three runs, including a two-run home run in the sixth inning. 

"You don't have to do too much," Cabrera said to MLB.com. "If you're trying to say, 'OK, I'm trying to hit a double, home run,' it's not going to happen. When you've got speed in front of you and they get on base, you have to take advantage, make something happen. We did that a lot today and it worked for us."

Cabrera is now hitting .377 with three home runs and 13 RBI this season.