MLB Player News

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and designated hitter Kennys Vargas are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against lefty Chris Sale and the White Sox.

The team is going righty-heavy against Sale, with Joe Mauer, who is serving as the team's designated hitter Sunday, the only lefty in the lineup. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe moves across the diamond to play first base, while Eduardo Escobar and Eduardo Nunez enter the lineup in place of Arcia and Vargas.

The Twins are underdogs (+135) against the White Sox Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Brantley has dealt with back issues over the first week of the season. Manager Terry Francona said the outfielder is feeling a little better Sunday and the hope is that he'll be able to return to action Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Jerry Sands will get the start in left field for the Indians.

The Indians are favorites (-110) against the Tigers Sunday.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 1 for 4 with one double and an RBI in Seattle's 5-4 win over the Athletics in 11 innings. Miller came up in the 11th with a runner on second and took the second pitch he saw from Fernando Abad to left field, driving in Logan Morrison.

"I've faced him a couple different times, and he's tough," Miller said to MLB.com. "He's been throwing well over the last couple days, too. He's got a fastball, slider, curve. He throws everything. But he left a slider up the other way, and I just tried to stay on it."

Miller is now hitting .333 in 15 at-bats this season.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 5 with four singles and one RBI in Saturday's 9-6 win over the Indians. 

Cabrera, who also scored a run, singled in his two first at-bats, but was unable to score. He then singled in the seventh inning to bring home Adrew Romine and give Detroit the lead. He is now hitting .429 on the season.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was not included in the starting lineup for Saturday's contest against Detroit, per FOX Sports Ohio.

Brantley returned from a two-game absence due to lower back stiffness on Friday, but revealed that he's still experiencing some discomfort. Manager Terry Francona also added on Friday that he would give Brantley some occasional days of rest moving forward. On Saturday Francona revealed that both sides have discussed about a possible stint on the disabled list, but "no one thinks it's needed," per the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

"He wants to play so bad," Francona said. "I just think we need to let this thing settle down, whether that's today, today and tomorrow, we'll see."

With Brantley sidelined, the Indians will have Ryan Raburn at DH, Mike Aviles in left field, and Jerry Sands in right field.

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha continued to swing a hot bat on Friday, launching his first home run of the season and leading his club to a 12-0 win over Seattle. Canha took Taijuan Walker deep for a two-run home run in the second inning to break the game open. He finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Canha is hitting .500 (7 for 14) with six RBI to start the season.

"I don't even talk to him right now," manager Bob Melvin said after Friday's game, per Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. "Whatever he's doing, let's just let him do it."

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is going with six right-handed hitters against the Athletics Friday night, according to MLB.com. 

With Athletics southpaw Drew Pomeranz on the mound, McClendon is giving Dustin Ackley and shortstop Brad Miller some rest. Both are left-handed hitters and McClendon has opted for outfielder Justin Ruggiano and shortstop Willie Bloomquist instead. 

Ruggiano is hitting sixth and Bloomquist ninth. The only left-handed hitters in the lineup are Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Logan Morrison. 

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha will hit second in Friday night's game against the Mariners, according to MLB.com. 

A day before in the series-finale against the Rangers, Canha hit seventh. This season, Canha is already 4 of 9 with two double and four RBI. Catcher Stephen Vogt will move down the lineup and bat seventh. 

Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Eric Sogard also switched places from Thursday's lineup. Semien will hit eighth and Sogard ninth. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the starting lineup and is batting third, behind Jason Kipnis and ahead of Carlos Santana on Friday against the Tigers, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Brantley was sidelined the previous two games with lower back stiffness. He has been held without a hit in four at-bats this season.

Manager Terry Francona told reporters he may sprinkle in some off days for Brantley in the near future after the outfielder acknowledged he's still experiencing some lower back discomfort, per MLB.com.

"We'll keep an eye on him," Francona said. "If he needs a day off or something, we can certainly do that. But we don't ever want to turn something that could be a day or two into two weeks. But it's nice having him in the lineup, that's for sure."

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez went 2 for 5 at the plate in Thursday's win over the Twins. Martinez hit a home run and a single, driving in a game-high three runs. He is now hitting .286 on the season.