MLB Player News

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 6-4 win over the A's Friday.

Miller shook off an 0-for-8 performance in his previous two games to hit his third home run of the season Friday. He opened the season with a nice 5-for-15, two-homer performance in a series against the Angels, but he's struggled at the plate since, hitting .220/.238/.488 with a 14:1 K:BB ratio in 41 at-bats this season.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 0 for 4 in Friday's loss to the Padres to continue his slow start to the season.

The winner of back-to-back MVP awards, Cabrera has hit just .250/.294/.406 with one home run and three RBI in 32 at-bats in his first eight games. He started at third base for the second time Friday, making his third overall appearance at the position as the Tigers continue a West Coast swing through the National League West.

Both Blue Jays competing for the starting second base job will play Friday night in Baltimore. Ryan Goins will man that position with Maicer Izturis playing short instead of Jonathan Diaz.

Izturis and Goins have been going in opposite directions at the plate. The former is batting .385 this season while the latter has just one hit in 19 at-bats.

Maicer Izturis has made four straight starts for the Blue Jays at second base, but John Gibbons has declined to name him the full-time starter ahead of struggling Ryan Goins.

Izturis boasts a .455 batting average while Goins has just one hit in 19 at-bats this season. But Gibbons believes the latter is a better all-around fielder and refuses to commit to Izturis.

"I'm not ready to stay that," Gibbons told the Toronto Sun. "Izturis gives you some offense and some defense. Goins is a defensive specialist. We think he's going to hit enough. He's off to a slow start but I expect him to improve on that. But right now we're playing the hot hand, the guy that's swinging the bat."

Gibbons added that he might have considered continuing to play Goins if others in the lineup were hitting better.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was noticeably limping in the clubhouse prior to Monday's game at Minnesota, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Cespedes acknowledged he's dealing with some discomfort in his right heel, but it was not enough to keep him from starting Monday.

"When I have to run, I can run. It's fine," he said.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes hit his first home run of the season Sunday against the Mariners. 

Cespedes got off to a slow start this year, but may have turned a corner in the eighth inning. Cespedes took the first pitch thrown by Yoervis Medina, and took it out to center field for a solo home run.

Cespedes finished the game 1 for 3, with one run scored and one RBI. He also managed to draw a walk in a previous plate appearance.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera continued to show why he was given a lucrative contract Friday with another explosive performance.

Cabrera went 4 for 5 and capped his day with a two-run homer in the eighth inning in a defeat of Baltimore. He elevated his batting average to .417 in the process.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBI in his team's 8-3 win over the Angels Tuesday.

Miller has 10 career home runs in 316 at-bats, but he incredibly has managed to post four multihit games in his career. He's looking to improve on a .265/.318/.418 line in his rookie season. Tuesday's big line was a great start.

Although Ryan Goins is the Blue Jays' starting second baseman, he was not in the starting lineup Monday against the Rays, replaced by Maicer Izturis in the season opener.

Manager John Gibbons said he went with Izturis because Rays starting pitcher David Price is tough on lefties, but added Goins sitting against left-handed starters won't be a regular occurrence.

"It's not an easy call because you want the kid's defense," Gibbons said of sitting Goins.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced his opening day lineup for Monday's game against the Royals. Second baseman Ian Kinsler will hit leadoff and be followed by right fielder Torii Hunter, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, DH Victor Martinez, center fielder Austin Jackson, catcher Alex Avila, third baseman Nick Castellanos, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and left field Rajai Davis.

Jackson has primarily hit leadoff in his career, but after the spring he put together, Ausmus made the decision to hit him in the heart of the order. Jackson hit .429 (24 for 56) with two triples, two home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI and 17 runs in 18 spring games.

"The way Austin Jackson hit this spring, he was the best option to bat fifth," Ausmus said.