MLB Player News

It's too early to determine if Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes has emerged from a slump that has gripped him through most of May. But he certainly showed positive signs Friday in St. Louis.

Cespedes had hit safely in only three of nine games heading in with five hits in his previous 35 at-bats. But he opened the scoring against the Cardinals with a solo home run in the second inning, singled in the sixth and put the cherry on top with a two-run double in the ninth.

The big night sweetened his slash line to .279/.297/.493.

Based on progression, Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez will get three hits in each of the next three games. He has followed three one-hit games with three two-hit games.

Martinez homered in the last of those two-hit games. His solo job in the seventh inning Friday night against host St. Louis helped Detroit to a blowout victory. He later singled and scored.

He is 9-for-21 with four runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.

First baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a home run in the Tigers' win over the Cardinals on Friday, the 399th of his career.

Cabrera entered the game batting just .158 with no homers and one RBI at night this season, while hitting .471 with eight homers and 25 RBI in day games.

Athletics first baseman Ike Davis remains remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox. Davis will miss his third straight start after leaving Monday's game with a quad injury. 

Mark Canha will fill in at first base while batting seventh. The team has not indicated when Davis might return to the lineup. 

Indians center fielder Michael Bourn and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall were not included in the starting lineup Friday night against left-hander Bruce Chen and the Rangers, per the team's official website.

Bourn is a .200 hitter (8 for 40) this season against southpaws. Chisenhall has fared better against left-handers, slashing .256/.326/.308 on the year. Manager Terry Francona inserted Zach Walters at third. Michael Brantley shifted to center field, with Ryan Raburn in the left field and at the cleanup spot.

There will be a Martinez batting cleanup for the Tigers in St. Louis on Friday night. But for the second straight game, it will be J.D. Martinez rather than Victor Martinez.

The latter is sitting out not because he has been in a season-long slump, but due to the game being played in a National League park.

J.D. Martinez, on the other hand, is on a five-game hitting streak and has nine walks in the last eight games. His slash line is a solid .244/.314/.465.

Brad Miller is set to make his debut in left field Thursday night for the Mariners against visiting Boston. He had only started at shortstop and designated hitter this season.

Miller, who has been honing his skills in left, has shown signs of emerging from a slump with four hits, including a home run, in the last two games. He began May on a 2-for-24 slide.

Indians top hitter Michael Brantley couldn't produce with runners in scoring position in a defeat of St. Louis on Wednesday, but he came through with the bases empty Thursday.

Brantley broke a scoreless tie to lead off the sixth by blasting one off Michael Wacha over the right-field fence. He now has four home runs and a fine slash line of .330/.403/.528.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera had quite an afternoon on Thursday against the Twins. Cabrera went 3 for 5 with two, two-run home runs and drove in a season-high five runs.

This was his third multi-home run game of the season so far. He hit his eighth home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and his ninth came two innings later. The big performance lifted Cabrera's season batting average to .328.

Brad Miller is trying to adjust to life after shortstop for the Mariners. Miller, who has been transitioning from shortstop the outfield in recent weeks, slugged his second home run of the season on Wednesday as the team's designated hitter.

Miller was taking fly balls in left field prior to Wednesday's game against the Padres. But the 25-year-old is trying to get comfortable learning a new position.

"It's definitely different," Miller said Wednesday, per MLB.com. "But the main thing is, you've got to show up for work every day and bust your tail. So that's just meant keeping my head down and getting my work in and helping us any way I can."

And despite his .188 batting average over his last 10 games, manager Lloyd McClendon has liked what he has seen from the youngster.

"He's done a nice job," said McClendon. "He's swung the bat pretty decent. He's part of the reason we had a four-game winning streak. I've been pleased with him in that spot."