MLB Player News

A hand specialist cleared Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to begin dry swings Monday, reports the Miami Herald.

Stanton was expected to miss 4-6 weeks after breaking a bone in his hand. Marlins manager Dan Jennings said he was uncertain of when Stanton could return to the team.

"I don't know that there's truly a time frame," Jennings said. "He'll know and he'll tell us. One thing about Giancarlo, he's very straightforward and very honest with his own assessment of himself and where he is. He's putting together a tremendous year, and you know he wants to be back."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game. Howard has started the last five games and 77 games on the year. 

He'll be replaced in the lineup by Darin Ruf, who gets his 14th start. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler hit a solo home run in Sunday's win over Atlanta. 

The homer was his fifth of the year and first since May 29. He went 1 for 4 in the game with a walk. He's now hit in four straight games and has four RBI over that span. 

Soler added his second stolen base of the year. 

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley went 1 for 3 with three walks and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Reds.

Brantley is hitting .364 with 12 hits, three doubles, two home runs, six walks and nine RBI over his last nine games.

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (thumb) remains in Georgia following the death of his aunt, general manager Terry Ryan said Sunday. Buxton hasn't been cleared to swing a bat.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was dropped to eighth in the batting order Sunday against the Diamondbacks for the first time all season. He had hit seventh in the two previous games.

Belt is 1 for 11 with five strikeouts in the first two games out of the All-Star break. He is batting .318 (14 for 44) with six doubles, three RBI, six runs, five walks, 13 strikeouts and two stolen bases in 12 July games.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of Sunday's lineup at Milwaukee, the team announced.

McCutchen was replaced in center field by Starling Marte, who will bat third. McCutchen is hitting .281 with three home runs and 12 RBI in his last 16 games.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter was not in Sunday's lineup against the Mets, the team announced.

He was replaced at third by Pete Kozma, who will bat eighth. Carpenter is hitting .161 with one home run and seven RBI in his last 15 games.

Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hit third Sunday against the Orioles for the first time in 2015. Prior to Sunday's game, he had hit second, fourth, fifth and sixth this season.

Cespedes has a good track record against Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez, who is on the hill Sunday. Cespedes is batting .500 (4 for 8) with one RBI and one walk in his career against the right-hander.

In his career batting third, Cespedes is hitting .271 with a .465 slugging percentage and .782 OPS in 106 games.

Cespedes is hitless in his last three games (0 for 11). However, he is batting .274 with a .500 slugging percentage, three home runs, five doubles and nine RBI in 14 July games.

Left fielder Michael Brantley got the Indians on the board early on Saturday. Brantley launched a three-run home run with no outs in the very first inning, as the Indians beat the Reds 9-4. 

The home run was Brantley's sixth of the season and just the second in his last 54 games. Despite the lack of power, Brantley has manged to stay productive at the plate. He's batting .324 with two homers and eight RBI over his last 10 games.