MLB Player News

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf has once again looked good in a small sample of games, and is seeing regular playing time, but is a sell high in Fantasy leagues.

Ruf has only notched 42 games over his career, and he's put up some pretty unsustainable rates. Ruf's average has been propped up by a ridiculous .370 career BABIP. Considering his career strikeout rate is over 30 percent, there's no way he'll continue to hit for a high average. On top of that, there's also reason to believe his power will taper off. Ruf has his a home run on nearly a quarter of his fly balls. 

It's been a fantastic start to his major league career, but the overall performance has been fluky. Sell while you can. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera made it four straight games with a home run. Cabrera has homered in five of his last six contests and is up to 37 on the year.

Cabrera went 2 for 4 in the loss at the White Sox Monday. He homered in each game of the previous series against the Yankees.

Cabrera, who has 111 RBI and also leads the American League in average at .366, trails just Chris Davis of the Orioles for the HR lead.

Cabrera has hit in nine straight games for the Tigers.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was named NL player of the week (Aug. 5-12) Monday. It was his first weekly award honor.

Belt hit safely in seven straight games last week, batting .440 (11 for 25) with two home runs, three doubles, three walks, five RBI and eight runs.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon has benefited from extra playing time since Carlos Gonzalez landed on the disabled list with a finger injury. Blackmon is batting .429 (6 for 14) with one double, one home run, two RBI, three runs and one stolen base in his last six games (three starts).

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera homered in the ninth inning of his team's 5-4 loss to the Yankees Sunday, giving him home runs in three consecutive games and four of the last five games.

Cabrera has picked up at least one hit in each of his eight games in August, going 13 for 29 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI. He owns a .365/.459/.686 line with 36 home runs and 110 RBI in 411 at-bats.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf hit his fourth home run of August in his team's 8-5 loss to the Nationals Saturday. The 1-for-4 performance makes him 8 for 33 with four home runs and seven RBI this month and gives him a .289/.389/.546 line with six home runs and 11 RBI in 97 at-bats.

The Phillies designated outfielder Delmon Young for assignment Friday, signaling their belief that Darin Ruf is their best option out there, at least for the near future. Ruf, a converted first baseman, is going to spend the final two months of the season auditioning for a job moving forward. 

"This is important for Ruf and [third baseman Cody] Asche and anyone who's getting to play like that, that's probably playing to be on the team or playing for a contract," manager Charlie Manuel told MLB.com Friday. "This is a big time for them. Not only that, it's a great chance. Sometimes you can go in and not get a chance like these guys are going to get."

In 27 games this season, as well as 12 a year ago, Ruf has pretty much proven his bat can play anywhere. In 126 career at-bats, Ruf is hitting .302 with eight home runs and 18 extra-base hits. The question will be finding a long-term home for him, with Ryan Howard still under contract at first base. The team thinks Ruf can learn the position well enough to survive, at least.

"He's not going to be a Gold Glover," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "But what he can bring to the table, we think he can bring to the table for us, warrants getting him as many at-bats as possible, even though we may sacrifice a little bit of defense."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera belted his 34th home run of the season Friday during a 4-3 extra-inning loss at the Yankees.

Cabrera hit a two-run shot with two outs off closer Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning to tie the score at three runs apiece. He finished 2 for 5 in the game with three RBI and is batting .360 for the year.

The slugger has gone 9 for 25 (.360) over a seven-game hitting streak with two homers and nine RBI. He's up to 108 driven in on the year, one shy of tying for the major league lead with Chris Davis of the Orioles.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (shoulder) returned to the starting lineup Friday night against the Rockies at Coors Field.

McCutchen reached base twice as he finished 1 for 2 with a walk and played only five innings of a 10-1 defeat. He is hitting .314/.387/.512 with 16 homers and 65 RBI in 420 at-bats.

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler (stress fracture/tibia) is expected to be examined Monday in Chicago to determine the next step in his rehabilitation process. He could be a candidate to play in the Arizona Fall League, ESPN reports.