MLB Player News

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley extended his RBI streak to four games Wednesday against the Tigers, totaling three RBI as he finished 3 for 5 with one run. Brantley has nine RBI in his last four games, while batting .438 (7 for 16) during that span.

Brantley is having a productive May, batting .338 (25 for 74) with a home run, a double, 10 runs and 15 RBI in 21 games (18 starts).

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez has been thriving at the plate since being named the everyday left fielder. Martinez is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs, four doubles and seven RBI in his last nine games (eight starts).

"I'm feeling good," he said, per MLB.com. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, not just (Wednesday) but the last couple of series. I feel like I'm going up there with my plan and approach and I'm not changing it within my at-bat and constantly changing plans like I feel like I have in the past."

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera homered for a third straight game Wednesday against the Indians, but this time he got an assist from Michael Bourn. The veteran outfielder tried to make a play on Cabrera's fly ball in the eighth inning, but as he leapt on the warning track to reach up for the baseball, it appeared to hit the inside of his glove before going over the wall for a two-run homer.

"It's one of those freak things that happens," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, per MLive.com. "You see it now and then. You don't see it that often."

Cabrera has hit safely in eight straight games and all but one of 19 May games. His slash line in May is .418/.489/.848/1.337. He also has seven doubles, nine home runs, 10 walks, 16 runs and 24 RBI.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton took part in batting practice Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list. He took swings before the game, but it is not clear how extensive his participation was. He hopes to begin running next week as he continues to recover from a strained hamstring. 

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez continued to turn his season around Wednesday against the Royals, as he hit his fourth home run in a 3-1 win.

Martinez went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run in the first-inning for his second multi-hit game in as many nights. He finished with two RBI and a run scored.

He is batting .255 since being recalled from Triple-A at the beginning of May, with two home runs and seven RBI in 13 games. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homered Wednesday against the Giants for the first time since missing time with a bruised left knee.

Harper went the other way with a solo home run in the sixth inning to open the scoring. He added a double in the 10th and came around to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.

Harper went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. He struck out once. He's hitting .288 with 12 home runs, 23 RBI and a .994 on-base plus slugging percentage. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was unable to start Wednesday against the Nationals with tightness in his back, but he appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. He made the final  out of the inning and finished the game at first base.

The Giants are off Thursday, so Belt could be back in the lineup Friday against the Rockies. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is out of Wednesday's lineup with back tightness, CSN San Francisco reports. 

Belt's injury is at a point where he could play if needed, but with the Giants facing a lefty in Gio Gonzalez, manager Bruce Bochy is taking the opportunity to let the back heal up. Brett Pill will get the start in Belt's place

The Dodgers have discussed calling up prospect Joc Pederson, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Pederson, a left-handed outfielder, is hitting .327/.400/.554 in Double-A. However, the Dodgers' personnel issues aren't in the outfield. Matt Kemp is struggling but not the type of player the Dodgers will nor should give up on. Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford are both having above-average seasons at the plate. As such, it's difficult to imagine these discussions going anywhere at this point, unless the Dodgers have a major injury or two in the outfield.

Two days after belting three home runs against the Rangers, Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit another home run Tuesday against the Indians. Cabrera pushed his hitting streak to seven games.

Cabrera is batting .464 (13 for 28) with a 1.107 slugging percentage, three doubles, five home runs and nine RBI during his hitting streak. For the month of May, Cabrera is batting .413 with a .813 slugging percentage, 1.296 OPS, six doubles, eight home runs and 21 RBI in 18 games.