MLB Player News

Giants left fielder Nori Aoki returns to the starting lineup Saturday against the Giants and will bat lead off, reports CSN Bay Area.

Aoki, who received his first off day of the season Friday, is hitting .311 with three RBI in 74 at-bats this season. Also in the lineup Saturday is catcher Andrew Susac, with Buster Posey shifting to first base and moving Brandon Belt to the bench. Susac, making just his third start of the year, is hitting 3 for 8 with two strikeouts to start the year.

Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas swapped positions for the Twins on Saturday. Mauer, who has started 14 of the team's 16 games at first base, will play designated hitter. Vargas, who has been the DH for 13 games, will play first. 

It's the second start at first base this season for Vargas and Mauer's third time at DH. 

The Twins are +145 money line underdogs at Seattle. 

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley went 4 for 4 in Saturday's loss to Detroit. 

Brantley doubled twice and drove in Cleveland's only run of the game. He's now hitting .359, 73 points higher than he started the day. Brantley has four doubles and six RBI. 

"It feels good," Brantley said to MLB.com. "You always want to contribute and do the best that you can for your team each and every day. I'll continue to work hard and keep pushing the guys like they are pushing me and we're going to be fine."

Miguel Cabrera was walked his first four times up on Saturday, as the Tigers beat Cleveland, 4-1. 

Cabrera became the first Tiger to draw four walks in a game since Matt Tuiasosopo on May 19, 2013. Three of the walks were intentional. He was the first Tiger to get three intentional walks in a game since he did it on August 15, 2010, and he's the first MLB player to do it since Adam Dunn on June 5, 2013.

"He's an unusual hitter," manager Terry Francona said to MLive.com. "Sometimes it depends on the situation, the outs, who's pitching. There's all kinds of things that go into it."

Cabrera made an out in his only at bat of the day. 

"They are either going to pitch him delicately or they're going to walk him," right fielder Rajai Davis said. "It is what it is. They were very careful. They know what he did in Cleveland and they obviously remember it."

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha was not listed in the team's starting lineup for Saturday's game. In his place, Cody Ross gets his second start of the season in left, batting eighth. 

Ross also has four starts in right this year. 

The A's are -115 money line favorites at home against Houston. 

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper will move to center field, in place of Denard Span, for Saturday's game. 

"What we have to be mindful of is that we don't want to push [Span] too hard, because this is a long-term thing," manager Matt Williams said to MLB.com. "We have a lot of games left. I want to make sure he is healthy for the rest of the season. Four in a row and a day off is probably the best thing to do. After today, let him go again. He'll let us know how he feels from there. He is playing well."

Reed Johnson gets his second start of the season in right.

The Nationals are -150 money line favorites at Miami. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton made his lone hit count in Thursday afternoon's 9-1 win over the Phillies.

Stanton hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, which also scored Martin Prado. Stanton otherwise went 1 for 5 in the game with three strikeouts. This was Stanton's fourth home run of the season. 

He now has 14 RBI for the year. 

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is set to sit Thursday against the Cubs, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has reported. The day off will allow him to rest his ailing left knee, which has been getting better.

McCutchen is hitless in his last two games and is just 6-for-28 since April 13 without a home run. His slash line on the year is an uncharacteristic .204/.322/.367.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg chose to rest four of his starters for Thursday's day game against the Marlins.

First baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley, shortstop Freddy Galvis and catcher Carlos Ruiz were all held out of the starting lineup. Darin Ruf started at first base, Cesar Hernandez started at second base, Andres Blanco started at shortstop and Cameron Rupp started at catcher.

Ruiz (.184), Howard (.196) and Utley (.120) are all batting below the Mendoza Line (.200). Galvis is batting .300 (15 for 50) with one double, one triple, one home run and eight RBI through 14 games.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 1 for 3 at the plate Wednesday in St. Louis' 7-5 win over the Nationals. Carpenter did his damage in the first inning, ripping a lead off home run off Doug Fister, his third of the season.

Carpenter, who also walked twice, is now hitting .377 with five RBI in 53 at-bats.