MLB Player News

Cespedes went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in the 6-3 victory over the Padres on Saturday.

It was his second homer of the series, and fifth bomb in the last 10 games. Cespedes is also 10-for-34 (.294) with 15 RBI and seven runs during that stretch.

Blackmon will return to the lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Johnny Cueto and the Giants.

The Rockies opted to rest Blackmon on Friday in order to avoid a tough lefty matchup against Madison Bumgarner. He will return to the lineup Saturday however, resuming his center field duties and leading off. Blackmon is 3-for-12 with one RBI in his career versus Cueto.

Brantley is not in the lineup Saturday against the Royals.

Jose Ramirez is swinging a hot bat, and the Indians opted to get him in the lineup in left field while providing a day off for Brantley on Saturday. Brantley should be the primary left fielder for the Indians going forward, however.

Colon went 2-for-4 in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Indians.

The 26-year-old is seeing starts all over the infield and found himself at third base Friday. He managed his first multi-hit game of the season, bringing his slash line up to .250/.308/.292 over 24 at-bats. Manager Ned Yost has also indicated that the former No.1 pick may see additional opportunities in the coming days at second base.

Ozuna went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 6-4 victory over the Phillies.

The 25-year-old outfielder's bat remains red-hot, as he's now managed three straight multi-hit efforts. Ozuna has also hit safely in six consecutive games and reached base safely in 14 straight. The recent offensive surge has his slash line up to .260/.313/.462 over 104 at-bats.

Goins is not in the lineup Saturday against the Dodgers, Eric Stephen of SB Nation reports.

Goins will sit for the second time in three games, as the Jays will go with Darwin Barney at second base and Troy Tulowitzki at short. Goins is off to a rough start to the season, hitting just .149 with 22 strikeouts in 87 at-bats.

Stanton launched a 475-foot home run, his 10th of the season, to lead the Marlins to a 6-4 win against the Phillies on Friday.

Stanton's blast in the bottom of the eighth gave the Marlins a two-run lead and helped secure their 11th win in the last 12 games. Stanton has simply been the best hitter in baseball over that stretch, cranking seven home runs while posting a .395/.531/1.026 line. For the season, he's now slashing .274/.391/.632 with 24 RBI. As Giancarlo goes, so go the Marlins.

Blackmon is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

With lefty Madison Bumgarner due up for San Francisco, Blackmon will take a seat in favor of Gerardo Parra in center field. Ryan Raburn will man left as DJ LeMahieu slots in atop the batting order. Blackmon is 8-for-28 with two doubles and a homer since his return from the DL late last month.

Manager Brad Ausmus confirmed that Martinez is not sitting Friday due to injury, the Oakland Press reports. "[Martinez] was really last man standing, that hasn't had a day off," Ausmus said. "And you can tell, watching him in batting practice, that mentally he could use a day, when he doesn't have to grind over every single pitch or every single at-bat."

Mike Aviles is starting in right field with Martinez on the bench for the first time this season. Martinez will miss out on an enticing matchup against a lefty on Friday, but hopefully the day off will allow him to recharge his batteries. The 28-year-old Martinez is just 3-for-26 with one extra-base hit over the past week.

Manager Ned Yost said Friday that Colon could see more action at second base in the near future, MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan reports.

Regular second baseman Omar Infante is not doing much at the plate this season, so it appears the Royals are ready to give Colon -- their top pick in the 2010 draft -- more opportunities on the field. The process seems to have started already, as Colon will start Friday -- at third base, however -- for the third time in five days.