MLB Player News

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez only contributed one hit to the slugfest Wednesday in Minnesota. But it was one heck of a hit.

Martinez smashed one of four Detroit home runs in the victory. His solo blast in a four-run sixth that tied the game landed over the fence in left.

He has six home runs and 15 RBI on the year and a fine .545 slugging percentage.

If it was just about anyone else, it would be a ridiculous day at the plate. But what Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera did Wednesday has become practically mundane for him.

Cabrera went 3-for-4 (yawn). What made his afternoon in Minnesota exceptional was that he slammed two home runs to give him five on the season and three in the last four games.

His explosion started slowly with a mere run-scoring double in the fourth inning. He then rocketed a 446-foot blast to center in the sixth and a 430-foot shot to center in the ninth. By the time the dust settled, his slash line stood at .370/.453/.630.

Cabrera has 17 RBI on the year.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is leading off for the first time this season Wednesday in his team's matchup with the Giants.

"He may end up back [eighth]," manager Don Mattingly said before the game, per MLB.com. "We don't know when Yasiel [Puig] comes back. For now, I feel he fits right there [at leadoff]."

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been moved to No. 2 in the order, making it his first start this season out of the leadoff slot. Manager Don Mattingly also flipped first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and second baseman Howie Kendrick, with Kendrick moving up to the third spot and Gonzalez batting cleanup.

The Dodgers are heavy favorites (-200) against the Giants at home Wednesday.

Twins' Kennys Vargas returned to the starting lineup at first base Wednesday afternoon against Detroit. Vargas is mired in a 2-for-28 slump and was held out of the lineup the past three games. He is hitting just .161 with a home run in 56 at-bats this season.

The Marlins got RBI from three players in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mets. 

Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run in the sixth to put the Marlins on top and record his 18th RBI of the season.

J.T. Realmuto singled in Stanton for his third RBI of the year. 

Michael Morse singled in the game-winning run in the eighth for his eighth RBI of the year. 

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday after getting a third day off Tuesday, according to 1500 ESPN.

Vargas has been out of the lineup since Sunday, with Eduardo Nunez taking over the DH role. Vargas has been in a bit of a slump and manager Paul Molitor has been pushing for Vargas to work on his pitch recognition. He is hitting just .161 with a home run in 56 at-bats this season.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has gotten off to a slow start to the season. Entering action on Tuesday, he was hitting .175 for the year and had an 0-for-16 stretch that ended on Sunday. 

"We’ve had a handful of guys spark our club," manager Clint Hurdle said, per the Post Gazette. After listing five members of the lineup, Hurdle said. "All of them have been involved (in the offense). McCutchen really hasn't." 

Hurdle isn't ready to push the panic button. He's confident McCutchen will heat up. "I believe it’s just one of those stretches," he said. "He’s going to produce. He’s going to hit. He’s going to drive in runs. He’s going to score runs."

Blue Jays infielders Ryan Goins and Jonathan Diaz will platoon at shortstop in the absence of Jose Reyes, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a rib injury, per MLB.com.

Goins got the start at shortstop Tuesday at Boston. Diaz was called up from the minors Monday after Reyes was placed on the disabled list.

Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay is batting leadoff Tuesday against the Phillies, with third baseman Matt Carpenter moving to the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

It's the first time this season the Cardinals haven't had Carpenter in the leadoff spot, and former No. 2 hitter Jason Heyward is back in the lineup Tuesday but batting sixth. Jay has hit just .233/.324/.267 with seven runs scored in 60 at-bats. Carpenter has hit .373/.427/.640 with three home runs, 11 RBI and a league-leading 11 doubles in 75 at-bats.

The Cardinals are heavy favorites (-210) against the Phillies Tuesday.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order for Tuesday's matchup with the Pirates, while Jorge Soler has been bumped down one spot and is batting third.

It's the third time in a row that manager Joe Maddon has used this configuration against a lefty, with Rizzo batting behind Soler in the team's last eight matchups with a righty. The lefty first baseman actually performed better against lefties last season, hitting .300/.421/.507 with eight home runs in 140 at-bats, and the trend has carried over this April.

The Cubs are favorites (-117) against the Pirates Tuesday.