MLB Player News

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez returned to the starting lineup Thursday against the Blue Jays after suffering a lower back contusion Tuesday.

Martinez, who served as the team's designated hitter, finished 1 for 3 with a double and two strikeouts in a 4-0 defeat. He is hitting .252 with seven homers and 36 RBI in 270 at-bats.

Bryce Harper delivered his first career game-ending home run, a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth Thursday that lifted the Nationals to a 9-7 win against the Pirates. Harper drove a hanging slider over the wall just to the left of straightaway center with two outs off Bryan Morris, who earlier allowed a single to Kurt Suzuki.

Harper came through with his 14th homer of the season, a day after sitting out because of a bothersome left knee that landed him on the disabled list recently. He went 3 for 5 with three runs and one double Thursday. Harper is batting .304 (17 for 56) with one triple, one home run, four doubles and six RBI in his last 15 games.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland told MLive.com Thursday that the team will take a cautious approach with third baseman Miguel Cabrera, though he may be ready to play Friday.

Cabrera has missed three straight games with a sore hip flexor and is hitting .358/.454/.666 in 374 at-bats before the injury.

Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said Thursday it's unlikely outfielder Marcell Ozuna will return this season. Ozuna is scheduled for thumb surgery Friday.

"I don't have a definitive time frame," Beinfest said, per The Miami Herald. "But it's highly doubtful and improbable that you'll see him again this season. It's a minimum six to eight weeks, and then you have to ramp up from there. So we're going to run out of time this season."

The Marlins announced Thursday outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who was demoted to the minors late Monday, was placed on the major-league, 15-day disabled list because of a left thumb ligament tear and avulsion fracture. He will have surgery Friday.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera will miss his third straight game with a sore hip flexor, according to mlive.com.

Manager Jim Leyland told reporters in a pregame media session that Cabrera would not be listed in the starting lineup. Leyland has said Cabrera likely won't need a stint on the disabled list, but has been quiet about his day-to-day status. 

Cabrera is hitting .358/.454/.666 in 374 at-bats. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper returned to the starting lineup Thursday against the Pirates after getting treatment for his knee Wednesday. Harper is batting .214 (15 for 70) with one home run and six RBI in 19 games since returning from the disabled list July 1.

Some Marlins players are hearing that outfielder Marcell Ozuna has a torn ligament in his left thumb, which would likely lead to a trip to the disabled list instead of to Double-A Jacksonville, the Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Ozuna has hit .265/.303/.389 with three home runs, 32 RBI and five stolen bases in 275 at-bats.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes returned to the starting lineup for Wednesday's matinee win at Houston. Cespedes, who doubled in his first action of the season half of the season Tuesday after missing time with wrist soreness, went 1 for 4 Wednesday. 

The Home Run Derby champion singled for his only hit. He's batting .227 on the season and is 2 for 6 since the break in two games. He should be healthy going forward for Oakland. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper received treatment on his knee Tuesday night, according to The Washington Post. 

Harper is not in the team's starting lineup Wednesday. Manager Davey Johnson admitted he would have to check on Harper more often. Harper has played consistently since he returned from the disabled list. He's hitting .264/.368/.505 in 220 at-bats.