MLB Player News

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, whose career-high 17-game hitting streak ended Friday, homered and tripled in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Giants. Stanton's two-out triple in the third was his first since Sept. 15, 2012.

His solo homer in the seventh gave him 12 long balls and a major-league leading 43 RBI this season. Stanton is hitting .320/.407/.615 after Saturday's 2-for-4 performance.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera belted his seventh home run Saturday against the Red Sox.

Cabrera stepped to the plate in the third inning with the bases empty. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Cabrera homered on a 94 mph fastball from John Lackey. Cabrera also singled and doubled during the game.

He finished 3 for 5, with one run and two RBI. 

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has returned to the lineup after missing a game with a back ailment. He is set to start against Oakland.

Brantley has been the team's most consistently productive hitter this season. His .279/.340/.483 stat line is the best on a team struggling to score runs. He is on pace for about 120 RBI after establishing a career-high with 73 last year.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller doesn't believe he requires an overhaul to escape a massive, extended slump that has lowered his batting average to .154.

"One swing away," he told the Tacoma News-Tribune. "One little thing. Baseball is such a feel game, and it's right there. I always feel like I'm right there. Nothing too crazy."

Miller, who was the talk of baseball during a torrid spring, has just two hits in 36 at-bats since his last multi-hit game on May 2. But his struggles extend back to mid-April. He has just seven hits in his last 71 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is dealing with a foot injury, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

McCutchen injured himself attempting to beat out a hit during the fourth inning of Thursday's game. He remained in the game despite the issue, and was able to run on the foot while in the field. McCutchen attempted to downplay the injury. "I can run on it fine," he said. "It’s more just trying to stop or having to maneuver at the last second."

McCutchen is hitting .306/.425/.483 in 147 at-bats.

Though he was forced to sit out Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not expected to be sidelined long due to a back injury.

Brantley was held out of the lineup Thursday, but manager Terry Francona told MLB.com it was more of a precautionary move. He expects Brantley to be back in the lineup Friday against the Athletics.

"He's doing really well," Francona said. "I just think since we're on turf, it's the last day of the trip, I'm not going to play him tonight. I think he'll be good to go tomorrow. He's going to take [batting practice]. He's already come out and thrown a little bit.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup Thursday.

Brantley had to leave Wednesday's game due to a back injury. He'll need more time to recover. For now, Brantley is considered day-to-day with the injury. He's hitting .279/.340/.483 in 147 at-bats. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf has been activated off the disabled list and will remain with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he has been on a rehab assignment. He has been dealing with an oblique injury.

Ruf has yet to appear in a major league game this season after a promising 2013 in which he hit 14 home runs in 231 at-bats.

There are many Fantasy owners out there wondering what to do with Mariners shortstop Brad Miller? Should you keep him in your lineup, stash him on your bench or drop him onto waivers?

Most Fantasy owners have been taking the last option, as Miller's Fantasy ownership has dropped from 97 percent as of Week 2 to 48 percent as of Thursday. Ouch.

I must admit, I'm part of the less than 50 percent of Fantasy owners still holding out hope for Miller to turn it around. The potential is there. He's just chasing a lot of pitches outside the strike zone and it appears he doesn't have a lot of confidence at the plate. I went more in depth about Miller's Fantasy value in a blog I wrote Thursday.

I can't blame Fantasy owners for needing to make a move with Miller, especially if you are in a shallow league and can't avoid a roster spot. But if you are in a deeper format and can afford to keep Miller on your bench, then I support that decision. If you have kept him this long, why not hold onto him a little longer.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton didn't provide his usual power, but still managed to reach base four times Wednesday.

Dodgers starter Paul Maholm could do nothing to stop Stanton. In the first inning, Stanton singled. He doubled in the second and walked in the fourth. Even after Maholm was removed from the game, Stanton managed another single. Stanton was replaced by Marcell Ozuna in the seventh inning, and did not have a chance to receive additional at-bats. He finished the game 4 3 for 3, with one run scored and a walk.