MLB Player News

Marlins emerging slugger Marcell Ozuna came up in the ninth inning Friday night in Colorado with the bases loaded and unloaded them.

Ozuna blasted one 428 feet to complete the rout. He has not only homered in three straight games, but he also added two singles and scored twice against the Rockies. He has 10 RBI in the last four games to give him 70 on the year and an outside shot at 100 this season.

Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes provided all of the team's offense Friday, in a 5-3 loss to the Mariners.

Cespedes had just one hit in the game, but it was a big one, as he got the Red Sox on the board with a three-run home run. He finished the game 1 for 4 with three RBI and one run scored, while striking out twice.

Cespedes had gone six games since his last home run, and is hitting just .230/.237/.446 with four home runs in 19 games for the Red Sox. 

Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Mariners, after leaving Thursday's game due to a family issue. He is batting fourth and starting in left field for the opener of a three-game series at home. 

Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes left Thursday's game due to a "family medical emergency."

Manager John Farrell did not want to get into specifics regarding the issue out of respect to Cespedes. The club is hopeful that Cespedes will be able to play Friday. He was replaced by Will Middlebrooks in the fourth inning. 

Red Sox outfielder Yoenis Cespedes left Thursday's game due to a personal matter.

Cespedes left in the top of the fourth inning. He was replaced by Will Middlebrooks. Cespedes struck out in his only at-bat of the game. 

I've got to hand it to Al Melchior: His predictions this year have been spot-on.

To say I didn't like Kennys Vargas would be inaccurate. Back on Aug. 5, I touted him under the headline "Kennys Vargas could surprise people." But I wasn't willing to endorse him over Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce, as Al did Thursday morning on the Fantasy Baseball Today podcast.

So of course that afternoon, Vargas goes 3 for 4 with a homer. The timing is incredible.

I'm still not willing to endorse him over Morales, who has a steady track record, or Pearce, who CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman spoke enthusiastically about on Thursday's Fantasy Baseball Today, but he's now officially surprised people. No "could" about it.

Given his strikeout rate, his batting average could be in for a steep regression, but I think Vargas deserves at least as much hype as C.J. Cron got earlier this season. His ownership rate reached 56 percent at one point. Vargas' is currently 35.

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas went yard Thursday against the Indians. 

Vargas struck in the bottom of the fourth inning. He took a 93 mph sinker from Corey Kluber out to left for a solo shot. Vargas would also double and single during the outing. He finished 3 for 4, with two runs scored and one RBI. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt said he expects to be back before the end of the season, according to 95.7 The Game.

Belt will be re-evaluated in three weeks. He's been out since August 6 due to concussion-related issues. Belt has hit .237/.296/.446 over 186 at-bats. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was serving as the designated hitter for Thursday's game against the Rays after aggravating an ankle injury Wednesday, manager Brad Ausmus told reporters.

Cabrera has served as the DH in 13 of his 123 games this season. Ausmus does not think this injury is much of a concern moving forward. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper put together a three-hit game Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, his second since returning from the disabled list, the Washington Post reports.

Harper sparked the team's game-winning rally in the ninth inning with his third single of the game, and manager Matt Williams said how he got the hit was the most encouraging part of the performance.

"He hit the ball back through the middle [Wednesday], which is really important for him," Williams said.

Harper has struggled to find his power swing this season thanks to a thumb injury, but he is hitting .282 with a .375 on-base percentage since the All-Star break. Impressed by his approach Wednesday, Williams believes the power will follow.

"But if he stays through the middle like that, he's going to get a lot of hits, and I feel if he trusts himself to do that, the home runs will come," Williams said. "They will come. They'll come on hanging breaking balls and change-ups up in the zone, if he can stay middle of the diamond. And he's working hard on that. So I'm proud of his approach."