MLB Player News

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup Sunday against the Brewers, going 2 for 5 with a home run and four RBI in Pittsburgh's 10-2 win.

McCutchen, who pushed his average to .190 on the year, ripped the first pitch he saw from Kyle Lohse in the sixth inning to right for his second homer of the year, driving in Gregory Polanco and Jordy Mercer. He then singled to drive in his fourth RBI and sixth of the seeason.

McCutchen thinks the issue with his knee, which kept him out of the lineup Saturday, is going to be there the rest of the year, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"It's going to be an everyday occurrence for me for who knows how long, but I can battle through it," McCutchen said. "Think about your knee being sore... You can pretty much pinpoint what could bother it." 

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez went 3 for 5 for a home run and three RBI in his team's 8-5 win over the Indians Sunday.

Martinez picked up two RBI on a second-inning single before tacking on one more with his ninth-inning home run, which is already his third of the season. He's 8 for 28 with seven RBI over the first week of play.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 4 with one walk, one double, two home runs and four RBI in his team's 8-5 win over the Indians Sunday.

Cabrera had been heating up over the weekend, going 3 for 5 and 4 for 5 in his first two games against the Indians, but he hadn't homered this season before smacking two balls over the fence Sunday. He's now 13 for 25 with four walks, two home runs and eight RBI in six games.

Cabrera will look to keep rolling in a series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh starting Monday.

After missing four straight games with a hamstring injury, first baseman Brandon Belt will start in Sunday's series finale against the Padres, per the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Belt had been taking part at baseball-related activities at less-than-full speed, in the hopes of returning to the lineup, and his hamstring passed the test. 

Belt returns to a favorable matchup against Padres starter Tyson Ross, against whom he has hit .364 with three RBIs in 11 career at-bats. 

With the Dodgers dealing with nagging injuries to Justin Turner (hand) and Juan Uribe (hamstring), infielder Alex Guerrero will get his first major league start, at third base, Sunday against the Diamondbacks. 

Both Turner and Uribe are not in the Dodgers' starting lineup, turning third base over to the Cuban rookie. A second baseman by trade, Guerrero will shift across the diamond. He has one hit in 12 major-league at-bats, but hit .333 over three minor-league levels in 2014. 

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is back in the lineup Sunday and batting third in his team's matchup with the Brewers.

McCutchen came out of Friday's game with knee soreness and did not play Saturday. He's 2 for 16 with one home run this season but has extensive experience against Sunday starter Kyle Lohse, batting .317 with two home runs and eight RBI in 41 at-bats.

The Pirates are resting third baseman Josh Harrison Sunday, with Jung Ho Kang making the start at the hot corner. Gregory Polanco is leading off for the Pirates Sunday.

The Pirates are underdogs (+105) against the Brewers Sunday.

Twins outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and designated hitter Kennys Vargas are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against lefty Chris Sale and the White Sox.

The team is going righty-heavy against Sale, with Joe Mauer, who is serving as the team's designated hitter Sunday, the only lefty in the lineup. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe moves across the diamond to play first base, while Eduardo Escobar and Eduardo Nunez enter the lineup in place of Arcia and Vargas.

The Twins are underdogs (+135) against the White Sox Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

The Marlins have scratched outfielder Marcell Ozuna for showing up to the ballpark late and will start outfielder Ichiro Suzuki in Sunday's game against the Rays, the Miami Herald reports.

Ichiro has appeared in all five games for the Marlins this season, going 0 for 4 in his first four appearances before drawing a walk Saturday and getting caught stealing. Ozuna is 5 for 19 but has yet to pick up an extra-base hit.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Brantley has dealt with back issues over the first week of the season. Manager Terry Francona said the outfielder is feeling a little better Sunday and the hope is that he'll be able to return to action Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Jerry Sands will get the start in left field for the Indians.

The Indians are favorites (-110) against the Tigers Sunday.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 1 for 4 with one double and an RBI in Seattle's 5-4 win over the Athletics in 11 innings. Miller came up in the 11th with a runner on second and took the second pitch he saw from Fernando Abad to left field, driving in Logan Morrison.

"I've faced him a couple different times, and he's tough," Miller said to MLB.com. "He's been throwing well over the last couple days, too. He's got a fastball, slider, curve. He throws everything. But he left a slider up the other way, and I just tried to stay on it."

Miller is now hitting .333 in 15 at-bats this season.