MLB Player News

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas is out of the lineup for a second straight game on Sunday.

"I think it's good for him to back off a little bit now and then," manager Paul Molitor said before the game, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "We've been doing that. I'm sure it's tough for him. Try to let him know to keep working and your name is going to be called at some point and come back and hopefully he can contribute."

Vargas has picked things up offensively in May, going 15 for 40 with two home runs and six RBI after ending April with a .172/.232/.234 line. However, he's also struck out five times in his last three games.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and first baseman Ryan Howard are not in the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Diamondbacks.

Utley is 3 for 6 with a walk, two doubles and two RBI in two games since being moved from third to sixth in the lineup, but he'll get a break Sunday, with Andres Blanco filling in at second base and batting second.

Howard had started seven straight games coming into Sunday's contest, hitting .259/.310/.444 with one home run and three RBI in 27 at-bats during that stretch. Darin Ruf is drawing the start at first base.

The Phillies are home underdogs (+115) against the Diamondbacks Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Mariners designated hitter Brad Miller went 2 for 3 at the plate in Seattle's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday. Miller crushed two solo home runs, one in the first inning and the second in the fifth. 

Miller is now hitting .264 with 13 RBI in 106 at-bats this season.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 3 for 5 at the plate in San Francisco's 11-2 win over the Reds on Saturday.

Belt did his damage in the second inning when he crushed a Mike Leake pitch over the center field wall for a solo home run, his second of the season. 

Belt is now hitting .306 with 13 RBI in 108 at-bats this season.

Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes bent his left thumb back while trying to make a catch in the 10th inning on Saturday, according to MLive.com.

Cespedes, who went 3 for 5 with an RBI in the win, is unsure of his status moving forward. He is hitting .290 with 23 RBI in 145 at-bats this season.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter launched his seventh home run of the season in the team's 10-inning loss to the Tigers on Saturday. Carpenter's solo shot came off David Price in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one run apiece.

This was his fourth home run in May. At this time last year, Carpenter had just one home run so he seems to have solidified his pop early on in 2015. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a home run in the Tigers' victory against the Cardinals on Saturday, the 400th of his career.

"That means a lot to me," Cabrera said. "But I just want to win and play games."

Cabrera has now homered in three straight games, hitting four during that span.

"He's definitely the best hitter in baseball and he's hands down the smartest player in baseball as well," Tigers starter David Price said. "He's pretty special."

Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre connected for his 400th homer on Friday, although Cabrera, now in his 13th MLB season, hit his in 2,330 fewer at-bats.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is arguably the most prodigious slugger in the game today.

But this is getting ridiculous.

Stanton smashed his fourth home run in four games and third tater in the last two Saturday against Atlanta. The solo belt to center field was his 11th in the past month. He was otherwise hitless in the loss.

He now owns a .555 slugging percentage on the year.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Rockies. This will be the third time this season that Gonzalez is starting a game on the bench.

Gonzalez has continued to hit well this season, and he's hitting at a nice .290 clip with six doubles and 10 RBI over his last eight games.

Justin Turner will hit cleanup for the first time this year, while filling it at first base.

For just the third time this season, Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is not in the starting lineup. Pederson has been slumping lately at the plate, hitting just .154 with seven punchouts in his last seven games. So manager Don Mattingly has decided to give the youngster a rest for Saturday's matchup with the Rockies.

Enrique Hernandez will fill in at center field and bat leadoff on Saturday.