MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is back in the starting lineup for Thursday's matchup with the Dodgers. But with Clayton Kershaw on the mound for Los Angeles, Belt will hit in the seventh spot in the lineup. It's the first time he's batted lower than sixth all season.

Belt has just three hits in 32 career at-bats against Kershaw, which is likely the reason for the move down the batting order. 

Belt has been hot at the plate, batting .381 with three home runs and eight RBI over his last 10 games. 

Phillies outfielder Ben Revere is getting just his second day off this month, as he is being held out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Rockies. Revere has been hitting fairly well lately, batting .268 with three RBI and three stolen bases over his last 10 games.

Darin Ruf will handle left field and bat third, while shortstop Freddy Galvis will hit lead-off for the first time this year. 

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez is serving as a designated hitter Thursday afternoon against the Astros, with Tyler Collins receiving a day off. Collins served as a DH for the previous two games since Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list.

Rajai Davis is in right field batting seventh, and Anthony Gose is in center and at the leadoff spot.

Detroit is favored (-160) at home against Houston, per VegasInsider.com.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 4-3, 13-inning loss to the Twins on Wednesday.

The Pirates found themselves immediately behind after the Twins scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but McCutchen was finally able to even the score with his eighth-inning blast to eventually send the game into extras. He has hit .238/.333/.399 with five home runs, 23 RBI and two stolen bases in 143 at-bats.

Nationals manager Matt Williams and outfielder Bryce Harper were ejected in the bottom of the third inning of Wednesday night's game against the Yankees. 

In a strange sequence of events, umpire Marvin Hudson told Harper to get back into the batter's box following a called strike. Harper said something in return to Hudson, who then tossed Harper from the game. 

Williams then ran onto the field to argue with Hudson, who subsequently tossed him as well. Williams then kicked some dirt onto the plate. 

Harper was fired up after the game when asked about the ejection. 

"I don't think 40,000 people paid to watch him ump tonight," he said, via CSN Washington's Chase Hughes. 

Harper's at-bat was finished by Michael Taylor, who struck out. Harper finished the game 0-1. 

This is the second time in a week both Harper and Williams have been ejected from a game. The previous time was against the Diamondbacks on May 13.

A matchup against Dodgers southpaw Brett Anderson on Wednesday has Giants first baseman Brandon Belt set to sit.

Belt has been on a roll, but is just 3-for-20 against lefties this season. He had three hits in three consecutive games until going 0-for-3 on Tuesday.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez has outhit now-sidelined teammate Victor Martinez most of the year - which isn't saying much. It stands to reason he will provide better protection in the lineup for hitting machine Miguel Cabrera than did the ailing veteran.

"There's not many people that can protect Miggy," Brad Ausmus told MLive.com. "But I think J.D.'s our best option."

A better option, apparently, than Yoenis Cespedes.

"I like Cespy being able to clear the deck, so to speak," Ausmus added.

An 0-for-25 stretch with 16 strikeouts proved to be one setback for J.D. Martinez, but he has otherwise performed well at the plate. He now owns a 10-game hitting streak that has raised his average from .216 to .260.

New Marlins manager Dan Jennings shook up the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against Arizona, moving Marcell Ozuna to the No. 2 hole and Martin Prado to the cleanup spot, per the Miami Herald.

Ozuna is hitting .207 (12 for 58) with two homers and six RBI over his last 15 games. Prado is hitting .247 (24 for 97) with a home run and eight RBI over his last 23 games played.

Miami is favored (-132) at home against Arizona, per VegasInsider.com.

Clint Hurdle has offered to MLB Network Radio that the inconsistency of Pirates star Andrew McCutchen is more related to his swing than his ailing knee. But Hurdle does acknowledge that the knee is an issue.

McCutchen has been hitless in four of his last eight games. He was batting under .200 from April 24 to May 7 and currently owns a slash line of .225/.321/.370. He has just four home runs in 138 at-bats.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha has shaken off the respiratory infection that held him out of the lineup for the last two games. Canha is starting on Wednesday at first base and batting seventh.

Canha was sent back to the hotel on Monday with the illness, but was able to return as a pinch-hitter in Tuesday's contest. He has been struggling mightely at the plate recently, as he has just one hit (a home run) in his last 27 at-bats.

Nevertheless, he will likely continue to see significant playing time at first base, especially against left-handers, while regular first baseman Ike Davis is on the disabled list.