MLB Player News

After managing just two multi-hit games in his first 14 appearances, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has totaled 16 multi-hit games in his last 33 appearances, including five of his last seven games heading into Sunday against the Red Sox.

Brantley's batting average has gone from .240 to .316 in his last 33 games thanks to a .346 average in that span.

"He's got a really pretty swing," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "He's got a swing that doesn't need a lot of maintenance. By that, I mean there's not a lot of moving parts. As you get more at-bats and more experience and know the league, it wouldn't shock me if he hits for more power."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera continued his torrid pace Thursday, homering for the fourth straight game. He has six home runs and 13 RBI over his last four games while going 9 for 15 with five walks.

Cabrera's .391 batting average and .701 slugging percentage lead all major-league players, and his .467 on-base percentage ranks second to Joey Votto. He's been hitless just twice in his last 34 games. He's the early favorite for 2013 AL MVP.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley extended his RBI streak to four games Wednesday against the Tigers, totaling three RBI as he finished 3 for 5 with one run. Brantley has nine RBI in his last four games, while batting .438 (7 for 16) during that span.

Brantley is having a productive May, batting .338 (25 for 74) with a home run, a double, 10 runs and 15 RBI in 21 games (18 starts).

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez has been thriving at the plate since being named the everyday left fielder. Martinez is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs, four doubles and seven RBI in his last nine games (eight starts).

"I'm feeling good," he said, per MLB.com. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, not just (Wednesday) but the last couple of series. I feel like I'm going up there with my plan and approach and I'm not changing it within my at-bat and constantly changing plans like I feel like I have in the past."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera homered for a third straight game Wednesday against the Indians, but this time he got an assist from Michael Bourn. The veteran outfielder tried to make a play on Cabrera's fly ball in the eighth inning, but as he leapt on the warning track to reach up for the baseball, it appeared to hit the inside of his glove before going over the wall for a two-run homer.

"It's one of those freak things that happens," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, per MLive.com. "You see it now and then. You don't see it that often."

Cabrera has hit safely in eight straight games and all but one of 19 May games. His slash line in May is .418/.489/.848/1.337. He also has seven doubles, nine home runs, 10 walks, 16 runs and 24 RBI.

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez continued to turn his season around Wednesday against the Royals, as he hit his fourth home run in a 3-1 win.

Martinez went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run in the first-inning for his second multi-hit game in as many nights. He finished with two RBI and a run scored.

He is batting .255 since being recalled from Triple-A at the beginning of May, with two home runs and seven RBI in 13 games. 

Two days after belting three home runs against the Rangers, Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit another home run Tuesday against the Indians. Cabrera pushed his hitting streak to seven games.

Cabrera is batting .464 (13 for 28) with a 1.107 slugging percentage, three doubles, five home runs and nine RBI during his hitting streak. For the month of May, Cabrera is batting .413 with a .813 slugging percentage, 1.296 OPS, six doubles, eight home runs and 21 RBI in 18 games.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes homered in the third inning Tuesday night against Yu Darvish in Texas. It was the only run scored by either team in the 1-0 Oakland win. 

Cespedes homered for the ninth time this season with two outs against Darvish to win it for the A's. He went 1 for 5 in the game with two strikeouts and is batting .211. 

Despite his low batting average, Cespedes has hit in seven of his last 10 games with three homers and four RBI over that span. He has 22 RBI on the year with 22 runs scored. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes homered for the eighth time this season and second time in six games Sunday against the Royals. He also had his first multi-hit game in 14 starts.

Cespedes entered Sunday in a 7-for-49 slump in his last 13 games. He did have three home runs and five RBI in that span.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera had his second career three-home run game Sunday night against the Rangers.

Cabrera had a three-run home run in the third, and solo shots in the fifth and eighth innings. He became the 23rd player in major-league history to finish 4 for 4 with three home runs, five RBI and four runs scored. But he became the first player to do it in a loss as the Tigers fell to the Rangers 11-8.

Cabrera hit .304 with eight homers and 34 RBI through 42 games during his triple crown season in 2012. He is hitting .387 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI through 42 games this season.