MLB Player News

Miller is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Miller will give way to Daniel Robertson at second base after starting eight straight games to begin the 2017 season. The 27-year-old is off to a sluggish start, with five hits (one extra-base hit), six walks and 12 strikeouts in 35 plate appearances. He will get plenty of chances to turn it around, but the Rays may opt to sit Miller occasionally against lefties until he gets it going at the plate.

Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks, a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals.

It's easy to understand the Cards' reluctance to give him a chance to hurt them, as Harper has started off 2017 by slashing .393/.541/.679 through eight games to go along with two homers, eight RBI and nine runs scored. With Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman just as hot behind him in the Nats batting order, though, teams may find they have little choice but to give the 2015 NL MVP some hittable pitches.

Ozuna went 2-for-2 with two home runs, six RBI and a walk during Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Braves.

Ozuna plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning before launching a three-run homer to right in the third and a two-run job to left in the fifth. The 26-year-old entered the game batting a robust .375 and upped that to .423 to go along with a Major League-leading 12 RBI after this monster performance.

Brantley went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI double in the 10th inning Tuesday to give the Indians a 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Shoulder troubles ruined his 2016, but Brantley has looked fully healthy to begin this season, collecting four RBI through his first six games. The Tribe will continue taking it relatively easy on him, resulting in more frequent days off, but the 29-year-old appears ready to once again contribute the solid five-category production he delivered in 2013-15.

Cespedes went 4-for-6 with three homers and five RBI in Tuesday's 14-4 drubbing of the Phillies.

After hitting just .154 through the season's first seven games, Cespedes apparently woke up a new man Tuesday. He absolutely went off on the Phillies, homering in his first three at-bats on a day that ultimately saw the Mets go yard seven times. Another season of 30-plus homers with solid average and strong counting stats appears to be in the works.

Carpenter, who is out of the lineup Tuesday, experienced back tightness Monday night, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Apparently, the back issue is not the sole cause of Carpenter's absence Tuesday. Manager Mike Matheny said Carpenter's 2-for-16 career record against lefty Gio Gonzalez, Tuesday's starter for the Nationals, factored into the decision to hold Carpenter out. The 31-year-old also dealt with back trouble throughout the spring, but he should be considered merely day-to-day for now.

Buxton went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers.

He was caught looking all three times, twice by Matt Boyd and once by Justin Wilson. Buxton's big finish to last season seems like a distant memory, as he's hitting .069 (2-for-29) to begin 2017 with a shocking 1:17 BB:K. Until he climbs his way out of this slump, the 23-year-old should be far away from any active fantasy rosters.

Carpenter is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.

Carpenter has gotten off to a sluggish start at the plate (5-for-24 with one RBI), so he'll head to the bench for what looks like a day of rest with lefty Gio Gonzalez hurling for Washington. Jose Martinez will man first base in his stead.

Goins is starting at third base and hitting ninth Tuesday against the Brewers.

Josh Donaldson was held out of Tuesday's lineup with a calf injury, giving way to Goins at third base. Goins has appeared at the plate once this season and has slashed just .223/.270/.324 in his major-league career, but could appear in the lineup until Donaldson is back in full health.

Martinez (foot) took regular batting practice Monday and is slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery, the Detroit News' Chris McCosky reports.

It sounds like he is nearing a rehab assignment, but that situation is still a little up in the air. He will likely head to High-A Lakeland at first, then eventually move to Triple-A Toledo, per McCosky, with a potential return to the big leagues in late April.