MLB Player News

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez was taken out of Monday's game after making a mental error at the plate.

Martinez admitted after the game that he did not follow the club's game strategy, swinging at the first pitch he saw. Martinez has been playing while Fernando Martinez is on the disabled list.

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez hit cleanup Monday night in Seattle. He hit in the four hole 32 times last year, reports MLB.com.

"I've always considered myself a heart-of-the-order-type hitter," he said. "I've always been that since the first time they put me in when I first got called up. I played one game in the six-hole and the next day I was in the three-hole or four-hole. I'm comfortable hitting here. I like it more because there's guys on base more. You're in more of an RBI spot and a pressure spot."

Martinez entered Monday's game having gone 3 for 8 in his first two starts after starting the year 0 for 3 as a reserve in Houston's first three games.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was expected to rest his ailing elbow Sunday in Houston. Cespedes didn't start the game but was needed after Josh Reddick was injured. 

Cespedes entered the game in left field and Seth Smith shifted to right in his place. Cespedes went 0 for 2 and is hitting .120. 

He could have used the complete day off considering he's 3 for 25 and 0 for 11 in his last three games with five strikeouts. 

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez got the start in left field Sunday in a home game against the Athletics. He hit third in the order and had a base hit. 

Martinez went 1 for 4 with a run scored in the 9-3 loss. The 25-year-old, who has started the last two games, has gone 3 for 8 without an RBI. He's hitting .273 in 11 at-bats. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who has dealt with some elbow discomfort, was given Sunday's game in Houston off to rest, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Cespedes tweaked the elbow during a swing in Saturday's game, but the A's claim he's sitting Sunday due to rest and not due to the injury. Cespedes was not listed on the trainer's report as an injury. 

A day off makes sense for Cespedes, who has gone 1 for 12 over the last three games with six strikeouts. He's batting .130 this season overall with two homers and five RBI among his three total hits. 

He should get back in the lineup Tuesday in Los Angeles after the team has a day off Monday. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes told reporters after Saturday's game that he is dealing with some discomfort in his elbow that might require a day off Sunday, as a precaution. Cespedes flinched after taking a swing during his last at-bat in the seventh inning. He finished 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in a 6-3 win.

"I'm not worried about the elbow," Cespedes said, per the Contra Coasta Times. "I'm not worried about the strikeouts. I'm not worried about anything."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera provided a spark at the plate for Detroit during Saturday's contest against the Yankees

Cabrera reached base five times, including an RBI single in the fifth inning. It was his first RBI of the season. He went 4 for 4 for the 24th time in his career and finished with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in an 8-4 victory. The 29-year-old raised his batting average from .200 to .333. this season.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera remained in Friday's game after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Yankees starter Ivan Nova during the fifth inning. Cabrera was attended to by the team's trainer at home plate before taking his base at first and showed no hints of an injury.

He finished 0 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored during Detroit's 8-3 win and is now hitting .200. Cabrera has reached base in all four games early this season.

Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes served as the team's DH in an 8-2 win over the Mariners Thursday, hitting a two-run home run and drawing a walk in his four plate appearances in the cleanup spot. It was the second homer of the year for Cespedes, who has a .214/.250/.643 line through four games.

Cleveland outfielder Michael Brantley tied his career high for hits with four on Wednesday night in a 3-2 win at Toronto. Brantley also drove in his first run of the season for the Tribe. 

Brantley went 4 for 5 with four singles, an RBI and a run scored in the 3-2 win extra-inning win. He's batting .714 thus far on the year after two games as he's gone 5 for 7 with two runs scored, an RBI and two walks for the Indians.