MLB Player News

Some have suggested that Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera should sit out the All-Star Game to rest his ailing back, MLive.com reports Sunday. Manager Jim Leyland never suggested that, however. 

"No," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That was never an issue."

Cabrera did remove himself from consideration to participate in the Home Run Derby, but was always expected to play in the Midsummer Classic. 

The defending American League Most Valuable Player and Triple Crown winner will be making his first All-Star start. He's batting .367 with 30 home runs and 95 RBI entering Sunday. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf homered in the first game of the club's doubleheader Saturday against the White Sox.

Ruf finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI. Even with an 0 for 4 in the second game of the doubleheader, Ruf owns a brilliant .375/.483/.750 line in eight games this season.

Mets infielder Justin Turner is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie Sunday, ESPN reports. Turner went 0 for 4 and served as a designated hitter for the Gulf Coast League Mets Saturday. He is expected back at some point next week when the Mets resume the second half of the season.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was ejected in the eighth inning of Saturday's game against the Marlins for arguing ball and strikes.

Harper threw his arms up after being called out on strikes and was immediately ejected. It was his third career ejection, with two of the three occurring in Miami. Harper finished 0 for 3 with a walk and was replaced by Scott Hairston.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton homered for the ninth time this season Friday during an 8-3 win over Washington. Stanton took Stephen Strasburg deep for a two-run shot in the second frame. 

He finished 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. He's batting .246. 

Stanton has recorded at least one base hit in five of his last six games. He has gone 5 for 19 (.263) over that stretch with four RBI. The homer Friday was his first of the month. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna drove in three runs Friday during an 8-3 win over Washington. Ozuna's triple with the bases loaded in the first inning tied the score at three. 

Ozuna finished 1 for 4 with two strikeouts and is batting .273 on the season. The rookie is batting just .152 (7 for 46) in July, as he's struck out nine times over 11 games. 

With a .361 batting average in July, Michael Brantley has suddenly become one of the most-added outfielders in Fantasy. It's helped that he's struck out only three times in his 36 at-bats for the Indians this month, but even if he sustains that level of success in making contact, Brantley appears headed for some regression.

Brantley's current .284/.340/..394 slash line is right in line with last season's .288/.348/.402, and his low strikeout rate makes him, at worst, a legitimate top-50 outfielder in points leagues, but he's currently in the top-30 in both Rotisserie and points formats. His 85 RBI pace largely is responsible for that, but it's highly unlikely that Brantley will continue to hit .391 with runners in scoring position.

Especially in Roto leagues, now is the time to find an owner who believes in Brantley maintaining his top-30 value and make a deal. If you don't, you may eventually be stuck with an outfielder who is not even worth starting, once his RBI pace starts to slip. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hit his 30th home run Thursday againt the White Sox.

Cabrera was 1 for 3 with the fifth-inning home run. He trails only Chris Davis (33) in home runs. Cabrera is hitting .366. 

The Astros brought in a left-handed reliever to try to neutralize Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter Wednesday, but that plan backfired and eventually led to their 5-4 loss. Carpenter hit a two-run home run off Wesley Wright to give the Cardinals the win, and Carpenter told reporters he isn't phased by teams trying to gain a platoon advantage.

"I've always felt, my whole career, even as an amateur, like I see lefties pretty well," said Carpenter. "I try to take the same approach and just get a good pitch to hit and try to put a good swing on it."

 Carpenter has nine home runs on the season, with four of them coming of lefties. He went 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in the game.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf continued to bring a solid bat Wednesday against the Nationals, as he hit safely for the fifth straight game since being recalled from Triple-A.

Ruf had just one hit in the game, but it was his first home run of the season, a solo shot in a 5-1 loss. He finished the game 1 for 3 with a walk, bringing his average to .385 through five games.