MLB Player News

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera didn't hit a home run for a fourth straight game, but he did drive in the Tigers' only run with a first-inning double in a 2-1 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday night. 

Cabrera put the Tigers on the board first with a double to center and drew a walk later in the game. He's now hitting .333 on the year and is tied for first in the American League with three others with 30 RBI. 

During his five-game hitting streak, Cabrera has nine hits and nine RBIs. 

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller homered again on Sunday, now collecting three long balls in two games.

Miller's hitting, overall, has been heating up as he's nine for his last 21 (.429 avg.) with four homers and five RBI.

"I'm not trying to read too much into what's happening," Miller said to MLB.com. "If you are going to play baseball, you deal with situations. The way to play every day is to be consistent over the long-term. If you worry about things that are out of your control, it can take away from your performance."

The Twins are expected to activate Eduardo Nunez from the disabled list on Tuesday and option Kennys Vargas to Triple-A, according to MLB.com. The team later confirmed the report.

Nunez has been on the 15-day DL with an oblique injury, but has taken batting practice as recently as Sunday. He was hitting .409 with two RBI in 22 at-bats before going on the DL.

Vargas has slowed down after his hot start. He is hitting .250 with 10 RBI in 104 at-bats this season. 

"He needs to go down there and work on his game," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Trying to take the pressure off him. It's not unusual for a guy to have to do that at some juncture. So it's best for him in the short-term."

Molitor wants Vargas to take the opportunity to work on his confidence at the plate.

"I think more than mechanics right now, it's more about what's in his head when he gets into the batter's box," Molitor said. "You have a guy who can be a valuable part of the middle of your lineup and can be a run producer, but through 100 at-bats it really hasn't happened for him so I think the best thing for him is to go down there and try to find a groove and relax a little bit and hopefully play better."

With regular Athletics first baseman Ike Davis on the 15-day DL, Mark Canha and Max Muncy are expected to split time at first base, manager Bob Melvin said per CSN Bay Area.

Canha is hitting .226/.293/.396 with five home runs in 106 at-bats this season. Muncy is also considered the top backup role at third base and is hitting .222 with one RBI in 18 at-bats. 

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hurt his thumb late in Saturday's game, but it didn't keep him out of Sunday's lineup. 

Cespedes bent his thumb back trying to make a catch. He remained in the game, but his availability for Sunday was questionable. 

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas is out of the lineup for a second straight game on Sunday.

"I think it's good for him to back off a little bit now and then," manager Paul Molitor said before the game, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "We've been doing that. I'm sure it's tough for him. Try to let him know to keep working and your name is going to be called at some point and come back and hopefully he can contribute."

Vargas has picked things up offensively in May, going 15 for 40 with two home runs and six RBI after ending April with a .172/.232/.234 line. However, he's also struck out five times in his last three games.

Mariners designated hitter Brad Miller went 2 for 3 at the plate in Seattle's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday. Miller crushed two solo home runs, one in the first inning and the second in the fifth. 

Miller is now hitting .264 with 13 RBI in 106 at-bats this season.

Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes bent his left thumb back while trying to make a catch in the 10th inning on Saturday, according to MLive.com.

Cespedes, who went 3 for 5 with an RBI in the win, is unsure of his status moving forward. He is hitting .290 with 23 RBI in 145 at-bats this season.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a home run in the Tigers' victory against the Cardinals on Saturday, the 400th of his career.

"That means a lot to me," Cabrera said. "But I just want to win and play games."

Cabrera has now homered in three straight games, hitting four during that span.

"He's definitely the best hitter in baseball and he's hands down the smartest player in baseball as well," Tigers starter David Price said. "He's pretty special."

Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre connected for his 400th homer on Friday, although Cabrera, now in his 13th MLB season, hit his in 2,330 fewer at-bats.

Both Nick Swisher and Ryan Raburn are not in the Indians' lineup for Saturday, as Michael Brantley will start in left field and bat third and David Murphy will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup.

Rayburn, a utility outfielder, suffered a bruised knee in Friday's game while Swisher returned from the disabled list in early May and had DH'd in eight of the Indians' 10 games before Saturday.