MLB Player News

Vargas went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Saturday's win over the Rangers. He's 5-for-11 with two home runs and three doubles in four games since being recalled from Triple-A.

It was thought initially that Vargas may only be in the majors for a few days, but his hot bat could keep him in the lineup and force the Twins to juggle their roster.

Miller went 1-for-4 with a solo homer Saturday at the Red Sox.

Miller's 14th homer of the year gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the first inning of a losing effort. He's now left the yard four times in nine games this month to raise his slugging percentage to .465 on the season.

Buxton's MRI confirmed a bone bruise in his right knee, as there was no structural damage, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

He is out of Saturday's lineup, making way for Danny Santana to start in center field and hit ninth. Buxton will apparently be available soon, although with just one more game before the All-Star break, they may opt to hold him out until the start of the second half.

Buxton (knee) is out of Saturday's lineup, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

He suffered a bruised knee in Friday's game and was set for an MRI Saturday, although the results are still unknown. Danny Santana will start in center field and bat ninth against the Rangers. It would not be surprising if Buxton was held out through the All-Star break.

Belt went 0-for-1 with four walks and a run scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

That wasn't a typo, Belt did actually start this game, but he reached base via the free pass four times Friday, only registering one official at-bat. He exhibited his elite plate discipline, bringing his on-base percentage over the .400-mark, something only eight other players in the majors can make a claim to. While the All-Star voting system is essentially a popularity contest, it is safe to say that Belt earned his first appearance with a slash line of .299/.404/.517 through the first half of the season.

Cespedes (quadriceps) will not participate in the All-Star game, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.

The star slugger is nursing a quadriceps injury that was already expected to keep him out through the All-Star break, so the news of him not participating in the All-Star game itself was expected. Pittsburgh's Starling Marte will take his spot on the National League's roster.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 in Friday's 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

The veteran slugger was one of the few to have some success against southpaw J.A. Happ, turning in the Tigers' only multi-hit effort on the night. Cabrera has a pair of multi-hit outings in July and has hit safely in nine of his last 12 games.

McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in Friday's 8-4 victory over the Cubs.

It was the second multi-hit outing in the last four for the veteran slugger, who's endured a tough season at the plate and a variety of injuries this season. He's showing signs of picking it up so far in July, slashing .296/.387/.370 over 27 at-bats.

Cespedes, who suffered a quad strain in Friday's game, is unlikely to return until after the All-Star break, The Star-Ledger's Maria Guardado reports.

Manager Terry Collins said he didn't expect Cespedes to play in the All-Star game, so it seems unlikely he'll play Saturday or Sunday. He hurt the quad going after a Daniel Murphy double in the third inning of Friday's game. Cespedes said he has dealt with a similar issue previously and only missed a handful of days in that instance, while also adding that he's hopeful he will be able to avoid a DL stint. It sounds like a major injury was avoided, but owners should be prepared to be without the star outfielder for the rest of the first half.

Buxton (knee) will have an MRI Saturday morning, but he's optimistic that he only suffered a bruise in Friday's game, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

He was limping postgame, but manager Paul Molitor said Buxton was doing better postgame than he was after the collision with the wall, so the team has some optimism. Buxton has had a checkered injury history, and indeed this is the same knee that he banged into the outfield wall last Friday. Look for his status to be updated Saturday, but it would be surprising if he returned to action before the All-Star break.