MLB Player News

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez is serving as a designated hitter Thursday afternoon against the Astros, with Tyler Collins receiving a day off. Collins served as a DH for the previous two games since Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list.

Rajai Davis is in right field batting seventh, and Anthony Gose is in center and at the leadoff spot.

Detroit is favored (-160) at home against Houston, per VegasInsider.com.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez has outhit now-sidelined teammate Victor Martinez most of the year - which isn't saying much. It stands to reason he will provide better protection in the lineup for hitting machine Miguel Cabrera than did the ailing veteran.

"There's not many people that can protect Miggy," Brad Ausmus told MLive.com. "But I think J.D.'s our best option."

A better option, apparently, than Yoenis Cespedes.

"I like Cespy being able to clear the deck, so to speak," Ausmus added.

An 0-for-25 stretch with 16 strikeouts proved to be one setback for J.D. Martinez, but he has otherwise performed well at the plate. He now owns a 10-game hitting streak that has raised his average from .216 to .260.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha has shaken off the respiratory infection that held him out of the lineup for the last two games. Canha is starting on Wednesday at first base and batting seventh.

Canha was sent back to the hotel on Monday with the illness, but was able to return as a pinch-hitter in Tuesday's contest. He has been struggling mightely at the plate recently, as he has just one hit (a home run) in his last 27 at-bats.

Nevertheless, he will likely continue to see significant playing time at first base, especially against left-handers, while regular first baseman Ike Davis is on the disabled list.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha is back with the team on Tuesday after being sent back to the hotel the previous day due to a severe respiratory infection, the Bay Area News Group reports.

Canha is not in the starting lineup but could come off the bench for the Athletics, who are road favorites (-140) in Houston on Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

"It seem like we have had it multiple times, but I don't know what you can do about it," manager Bob Melvin said to Bay Area News Group. "When you get guys in close proximity and there's something that's contagious going around, to an extent you try to do the best you can like yesterday, sending Canha home. But you go through these things."

The first baseman has hit .226/.293/.396 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 106 at-bats.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez is batting cleanup and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes is batting fifth in Tuesday's matchup with the Brewers.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said on Tuesday that the team would likely continue to go with the pair of outfielders in the fourth and fifth spots while Victor Martinez is on the disabled list, MLive.com reports.

The Tigers are heavy favorites (-175) against the Brewers on Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.

Cespedes bent his thumb back while making a defensive play on Saturday but was back in the lineup Sunday. However, he'll get a break Monday, with Rajai Davis taking over in left field.

The Tigers are favorites (-140) at home on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.

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.