MLB Player News

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit his fourth home run of the season Tuesday against the Twins.

Cabrera is hitting .363/.436/.559 in 102 at-bats this season. His .559 slugging percentage, while incredibly strong, would rate as his lowest in the category since 2009. Given how he's performed in the past, it's safe to assume the home runs will eventually start coming in bunches.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley hit his first home run of the season Tuesday against the Phillies, a sign that he has found his stroke. Brantley opened the season with one extra-base hit (double) in 50 at-bats.

But in the last nine games, Brantley has four doubles, a triple and a home run in 41 at-bats, with seven RBI. Brantley has improved his batting averag from .240 to .286, putting him right in line with preseason expectations.

Brantley has yet to steal a base, but he's productive otherwise. He is a useful AL-only Fantasy option, and he's starting to look intriguing in deeper mixed-league formats. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 3 for 5 with two doubles in Cleveland's 9-0 romp Monday over Kansas City.

Brantley scored twice and raised his line to .291/.371/.372. Power has been slow to come for Brantley -- he now has six extra-base hits but is still without a home run. He has just 13 home runs over the past two seasons (1,003 at-bats), so a month-long home run drought isn't particularly out of the ordinary for Brantley.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Monday that Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera almost always have a green light to swing on a 3-0 count, MLB.com reports. He also said most players don't feel comfortable swinging in a 3-0 count. 

"I never give Miguel the take -- him and Prince," Leyland said. "Unless you think the game's a lopsided game where you don't want to get somebody hit or something like that."

That said, Cabrera is more likely to take a 3-0 pitch than swing. Cabrera is 6 for 13 swinging on 3-0 during his career. He homered off Cory Gearrin on Sunday in that count. 

Fielder has gone 7 for 20 swinging on 3-0 during his career. He's walked in all four plate appearances in that count this season. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games Sunday night against the Braves. He went 2 for 4 with a homer and two runs scored in the 8-3 win.

The 30-year-old led off the sixth inning with a double before launching a three-run bomb off Cory Gearrin the following frame.

Cabrera is batting .420 (21 for 50) during his streak with two home runs and 15 RBI.

Playing in his first game since April 12, A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes made an impact in his return to the lineup Sunday against the Orioles. After missing time due to a hand injury, he went 2 for 5 with a homer and a pair of runs scored in the 9-8 win.

The 27-year-old singled in the sixth inning and came around to score on a Josh Donaldson double. In the ninth with his team trailing by two, he launched a two-run shot off Brian Matusz to tie the game.

"He's very impactful, obviously," manager Bob Melvin said. "That home run was kind of what he's all about. We need him in the lineup and he showed today why."

The Athletics activated outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the 15-day disabled list Sunday and started him as the cleanup hitter against the Orioles, MLB.com reports. 

Cespedes, who had been out with a hand injury, went 3 for 9 (.333) on an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento. One of those hits was a home run and he drove in four runs. 

Cespedes entered Sunday batting .200 for the A's this year with three homers and seven RBI. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley extended his modest hitting streak to five games Saturday night against the Royals. He went 2 for 5 with two RBI in the 3-2 loss.

The 25-year-old doubled to lead off the eighth inning before driving in two with a triple in the ninth.

Brantley is batting .348 (8 for 23) during his streak with five RBI and three runs scored.

Barring any setbacks, Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hand), is expected to be activated off the 15-day disabled list Sunday, MLB.com reports Friday.

Cespedes, who is currently on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, is slated to play in the field Friday. If all goes well, he will serve as the designated hitter Saturday before rejoining the team for their series finale Sunday afternoon against the Orioles.

Cespedes is batting .250/.298/.450 with three home runs and seven RBI over his first 40 at-bats. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera pushed his hitting streak to nine games Thursday against the Royals. Cabrera is batting .405 (15 for 37) with one home run, two doubles and nine RBI during the streak.