MLB Player News

Dickerson was removed from Friday's game following a collision in the outfield with teammate Travis Jankowski, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Dickerson was able to walk off the field following the collision, but he will not be able to continue beyond the top of the first inning Friday night. Expect an update on his status when more details regarding his health are released.

Blackmon went 4-for-5 with two doubles and scored a run in Friday's victory over the Mets.

The center fielder raised his average to .303 with his first four-hit performance of the season. Despite a short stint on the DL earlier in the year, Blackmon is still on pace to challenge last season's career highs in doubles (31) and runs scored (93).

Martinez (elbow) will start at DH for Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press reports.

Martinez has gone 4-for-10 in his first two rehab assignment games and will be back out there in the DH role Friday against Triple-A Gwinnett. He's yet to advance to playing in the outfield during an outing but that will likely occur in the coming days. Pending any setbacks, the 28-year-old is still projecting to return to the Tigers in early August.

Martinez (elbow) was throwing from 220 feet Friday, but felt a little sore after the workout as he remains on the disabled list, Tony Paul of DetroitNews.com reports.

There was the slight chance that Martinez could play in the outfield for Triple-A Toledo's game on Friday, but the team isn't taking any chances and will keep him in the DH spot for now. Manager Brad Ausmus said that he could return before the end of the team's homestand, which continues through August 7. Chances are that he will be back before then, and could be back in the lineup as a right fielder within the next couple days.

Carpenter (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Sunday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The three-time All-Star was recently cleared to resume baseball activities after being shut down for several weeks, and has successfully ramped up close to a rehab assignment. It's uncertain how long Carpenter will need in the minors to prepare for a return to the major league roster, but it seems he has a decent chance to make it back for the start of the team's homestand next week. He will immediately resume his role as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter upon activation.

Brantley took some swings from a pitching machine Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's a step in the right direction for Brantley who has had a tumultuous return from shoulder discomfort that's sidelined him since early May. There's likely to be an update on the 28-year-old's progress in the coming days after he sees how he feels following the hitting session.

Cespedes (quad) is back in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Word of a quadriceps flareup Wednesday provided a bit of a scare, as the quad issue is something that's been lingering since before the All-Star break, but it seems it was simply a minor setback. Cespedes has been cleared to return following Thursday's off day, and will look to reach the seats for just the second time since the intermission.

Goins (forearm) is 12-for-42 (.318) with one extra-base hit during his rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo.

Goins has been eligible to come off the 15-day DL for more than a week now, but the team has decided to keep the tag on him. It doesn't appear the problem has anything to do with the infielder's health, so there's something else going on here. Goins struggled mightily before being injured and landing on the DL back on July 2, and utility infielder Darwin Barney -- who is a very similar player to Goins -- has been the better of the two this season. It's very possible that the 28-year-old Goins will stay put in the minors for a while.

Vargas is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

Vargas will get a day off Thursday as Robbie Grossman takes over the designated hitter's spot. In the past five games, Vargas has gone 6-for-18 with three RBI and three doubles, and has provided a nice bat to the lineup since being recalled from Triple-A in early July.

Cespedes' balky right quadriceps muscle flared up Wednesday night, which is why he is out of Thursday's lineup, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.

It was already assumed that he was getting a maintenance day for the quad that has ailed him for a while, but it now sounds like Cespedes could miss more than just Thursday's game with the issue. Alejandro De Aza is getting the start in left field with Juan Lagares in center field Thursday against lefty Tyler Anderson.