MLB Player News

Cespedes was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and six RBI including a grand slam home run as the Mets dismantled the Giants on Friday night.

He returned to the lineup after missing five games with a leg bruise - aside from a pinch-hit home run - and proceeded to punish the Giants with a huge night at the plate. He has now blasted seven home runs and driven in 23 while hitting .313 on the year despite the days off. Cespedes also left early in this game, but with the Mets up by 12 there was no reason to overburden his balky leg.

Blackmon (toe) has been activated off the disabled list and will bat leadoff Friday against the Diamondbacks, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Brandon Barnes was optioned to Triple-A on Friday in a corresponding move to activate Blackmon off the DL. Blackmon initially landed on the disabled list due to a turf toe injury, but was able to return to the Rockies after the minimum 15-day requirement. He'll draw back into the leadoff spot Friday against Arizona lefty Robbie Ray.

Stanton is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.

Ichiro Suzuki will take over in right field for Stanton and bat leadoff Friday with manager Don Mattingly giving his star slugger the night off. Friday is believed to just be a routine day off for Stanton, so he figures to rejoin the lineup Saturday in Milwaukee.

Cespedes (leg) is starting in center field and hitting cleanup Friday against the Giants.

He was out of the lineup for the last five games, but made one pinch-hit appearance and hit a home run in that outing. Owners can rest easy and knowing Cespedes is back for the foreseeable future, and he can be deployed Friday in all formats.

Goins is in no immediate danger of losing his spot to Devon Travis (shoulder), who has begun his rehab assignment after having off-season surgery, MLB.com reports.

Second base belongs to Goins, and while that could eventually change, Travis will need to earn his spot on the field. Goins could speed up that timeline if he continues to struggle with the bat, but the Blue Jays are content with his defense and seem to be in no hurry to make a move.

Manager Walt Weiss said that Blackmon (toe) will likely join the team Friday for the weekend series in Arizona, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports.

Blackmon completed his second rehab game with High-A Modesto on Wednesday and went 1-for-4 with a run. The outfielder seems to be doing better given that he was able to play in back-to-back games, but it is unclear if he'll be able to suit up for the series opener Friday. His status should become clearer as Friday's game time approaches.

Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Turner will start every game in the Dodgers' upcoming series against the Padres, J.P Hoonstra of the Southern California News Group reports.

Turner is out of the lineup Thursday, but Roberts told reporters that he'd be in the lineup for all three games this weekend when the Dodgers face the Padres. Cesar Vargas, Colin Rea, and Drew Pomeranz are the scheduled starters that Turner and the Dodgers will be facing over the weekend.

Turner is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

It's not entirely clear why Turner is being held out Thursday, but he will open on the bench while Howie Kendrick gets the nod at the hot corner.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Dodgers, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.

Manager Don Mattingly is hoping that holding Ozuna out will help him snap out of a 2-for-11 skid at the plate. Ozuna's day off allows his replacement -- Ichiro Suzuki -- to start against fellow countryman Kenta Maeda.

Brantley went 1-for-3 with a walk, a steal and a run against the Twins on Wednesday.

After an 0-for-4 performance in his first start of the year, Brantley got started on filling the back of his baseball card in this one. If he can stay on the field moving forward, Brantley should be a lock for double-digit homers and steals, with a shot at joining the 20-20 club for the second time.