MLB Player News

Indians manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that he's "hopeful" outfielder Michael Brantley, who was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with a back injury, will return to the lineup Thursday but that he's uncertain of Brantley's availability, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports.

"If he doesn't," Francona said, "I'd rather it be a day or two than a week or two. He's battled this on and off all spring. We just want to get a handle on it."

Brantley also dealt with back issues this spring and was able to play in Monday's season opener, going 0 for 4 at the plate.

"The doctors have looked at him and I don't think there's any real concern structurally, but it hurts," Francona said. "We'll see how he feels [Thursday] and we'll certainly get him looked at when he gets home."

The Indians head to Cleveland Friday to open a weekend series against the Tigers.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton had a very poor day at the plate in the team's 2-0 loss to the Braves on Wednesday.

''You go through spells like that,'' Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. ''We came out of spring training and I thought we were swinging the bats really well. I give the Braves credit for the way they pitched. They pitched really well and shut us down.''

Stanton struck out three times, walking once. His batting average in the early stages of the season is .125. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup due to lower back stiffness, the team announced.

Brantley also dealt with back issues late in spring training. He went 0 for 4 on Opening Day. With Brantley sidelined, Mike Aviles will play left field and bat ninth.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is dealing with a very mild groin strain and is optimistic he will avoid landing on the DL with the injury, Belt said per CSN Bay Area.

Belt pulled up lame when trying to make a catch in Tuesday's game and was forced to leave with the injury. He is hoping to take some batting practice Wednesday, but doesn't know when he will be able to return yet.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Diamondbacks.

Belt left Tuesday's game with a groin injury and was scheduled to undergo an MRI Wednesday. With the first baseman sidelined, catcher Buster Posey will shift to first base and Hector Sanchez will enter the game at catcher.

The Giants will also start Matt Duffy at second base and Justin Maxwell in right field Wednesday, sending Joe Panik and Gregor Blanco to the bench.

The Athletics will use their third new lineup in as many days Wednesday against the Rangers, starting Mark Canha at first base, Josh Phegley at catcher and Tyler Ladendorf at second base, the team announced.

Canha will replace Ike Davis at first and make his first career appearance in the majors. Phegley will replace Stephen Vogt at catcher and is hitting .207 with seven home runs and 29 RBI in his career. Ladendorf will replace Eric Sogard at second and make just his third career appearance in the majors.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has decided to adjust his outfield for Philadelphia's second game against the Red Sox, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sandberg is going with Ben Revere in center field, Darin Ruf in left field, and Jeff Francoeur in right field, pushing Grady Sizemore and Odubel Herrera to the bench. Ruf will make his season debut after hitting .235 with three home runs and eight RBI in 102 at-bats in 2014.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was forced out of Tuesday's contest against Arizona with a groin strain, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Belt came up lame after trying to catch a popup near the first base line in the bottom of the fourth inning. He lined out in the first and singled in the fourth before limping out of the game. He was replaced by Joaquin Arias.

After the game, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters that Belt will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury. Belt is hitting .167 this season. Bochy acknowledged that he will have his Triple-A options on alert because he is lacking depth on the bench, per Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

"I just don't think it's too bad right now in my opinion," Belt said, per the Bay Area News Group.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly stopped short Monday of calling rookie Joc Pederson the team's starting center fielder, but he added, "You're going to see Joc a lot in center field."

"We really like the way Joc goes about his business," Mattingly said, per MLB.com. 

Mattingly added Scott Van Slyke and Andre Ethier are likely going to start in center field the days Pederson is off, per the Los Angeles Times. 

Mattingly said he spoke with Ethier over the weekend about his reserve role. Ethier was hoping to be a starter -- either with the Dodgers or another team.

"Any step can change his whole situation," Mattingly said. "If one guy takes a bad step, turns an ankle, Andre's playing every day."

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 from the plate Monday, including a two-run home run, in Pittsburgh's 5-2 loss to the Reds.

McCutchen started 0 for 2 in the game, but rallied late. After a single in the sixth, McCutchen ripped a two-run homer to center field off reliever Kevin Gregg in the eighth inning to tie the game at 2.

"He has a comfort zone here," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's hit some big homers late."

However, Todd Frazier broke the tie in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run shot.