MLB Player News

It's too early to determine if Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes has emerged from a slump that has gripped him through most of May. But he certainly showed positive signs Friday in St. Louis.

Cespedes had hit safely in only three of nine games heading in with five hits in his previous 35 at-bats. But he opened the scoring against the Cardinals with a solo home run in the second inning, singled in the sixth and put the cherry on top with a two-run double in the ninth.

The big night sweetened his slash line to .279/.297/.493.

Based on progression, Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez will get three hits in each of the next three games. He has followed three one-hit games with three two-hit games.

Martinez homered in the last of those two-hit games. His solo job in the seventh inning Friday night against host St. Louis helped Detroit to a blowout victory. He later singled and scored.

He is 9-for-21 with four runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner drove in two runs on Friday, leading his team to a 6-4 victory over the Rockies.

Turner singled in the opening frame and ripped a two-run double off Colorado starter Eddie Butler in the second inning. He finished 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI. He is hitting .302 on the year, with five homers, 15 RBI and a .380 on-base percentage in 28 games played.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit his eighth home run in his last nine games during Friday's 10-0 win over the Padres.

Harper hit the two-run home run off Shawn Kelley in the fourth inning. He finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBI. His 13 home runs lead the National League.

 Harper is now 17 for 32 in his last nine games with 18 RBI. He has raised his batting average from .245 to .317.

First baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a home run in the Tigers' win over the Cardinals on Friday, the 399th of his career.

Cabrera entered the game batting just .158 with no homers and one RBI at night this season, while hitting .471 with eight homers and 25 RBI in day games.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton hit two home runs during Friday's 5-3 loss to the Braves.

Stanton hit his first home run in the third inning off Julio Teheran and he connected off Cody Martin in the seventh inning. Both home runs were solo shots. Stanton finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Stanton is 5 for 11 with three home runs and six RBI in his last three games.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt connected on his first home run of the season during Friday's 10-2 win over the Reds.

"I had forgotten what that feels like," he said, per MLB.com. "It's been a while."

Belt hit the three-run home run in the first inning off Jason Marquis. Belt finished the game 3 for 5 with four RBI. He also hit a double during the game.

He is now hitting .291 on the season. Before Friday's three-hit game, Belt had been 1 for 13 in his last three games.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to help send Friday's game with the Cubs into extra innings. 

McCutchen reached base five times, going 2 for 4 with three walks. He's now hitting .238 with four home runs and 22 RBI.

Left fielder Corey Dickerson was not in the Rockies lineup for Friday's game, just the fourth time this season he'll miss a start. 

Charlie Blackmon moves over from center field, playing left for the second time this season. Drew Stubbs gets his ninth start in center, replacing Blackmon. 

Athletics first baseman Ike Davis remains remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox. Davis will miss his third straight start after leaving Monday's game with a quad injury. 

Mark Canha will fill in at first base while batting seventh. The team has not indicated when Davis might return to the lineup.