MLB Player News

Martinez batted sixth and went 1-for-5 with a two-run double in Friday's 7-4 win over the Royals.

Martinez, who went 3-for-34 (.088) in his first nine games following the All-Star break, was dropped to sixth in the order. It was the first time he's batted as low as sixth since May 16, 2017, when he was with the Tigers. It's been a down year for the slumping slugger, who has just nine home runs and 42 RBI through 91 games -- well off the pace of his 162-game average of 33 and 105.

Miller went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday's 2-1 loss to the White Sox.

Miller spent the last two weeks on the injured list with a neck strain and returns without an obvious home for consistent playing time. The lefty-hitter has been a regular against right-handers in left field, at third base or as a designated hitter, but a .591 OPS against them doesn't support his continued use as a platoon partner. The Rangers have recently called up younger talent, like Josh Smith, Elier Hernandez, Bubba Thompson and Ezequiel Duran, who could limit Miller to a utility bench role.

Buxton is not in Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays.

It seems that Buxton hasn't been 100 percent healthy since early in the season, and the Twins' approach has been to give him strategic rest days to manage his persistent lower-body issues. He is slashing .197/.281/.478 with 17 home runs and two steals in his last 62 games. Mark Contreras is starting in center field and batting eighth.

Lewis is not in Friday's lineup against the Angels.

Lewis is hitting .111 with one home run, 13 strikeouts and five walks in 12 games since coming off the injured list. Adam Frazier will start in right field while Abraham Toro starts at the keystone.

Solak was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Solak was called up by Texas in mid-July and went 2-for-10 with a solo home run and a walk in seven games. The 27-year-old has a .208/.299/.338 slash line in 88 plate appearances this year. Brad Miller (neck) was activated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Miller (neck) was activated from the 10-day injured list and will bat ninth as the designated hitter Friday versus the White Sox.

Miller has been sidelined the past few weeks by a strained neck but will rejoin the active roster Friday after a five-game rehab assignment in the minors. The 32-year-old had a miserable .357 OPS over his last 21 games before landing on the injured list and may not regain a regular spot in the lineup.

Canha will sit Friday against Atlanta.

The Mets' outfield got more crowded after the team added Tyler Naquin in late July, and it looks like that may be having a larger impact on Canha's playing time than previously expected. The last four games have all come against righties, and it's been Naquin getting the start in left field in three of them. Canha's .270/.366/.375 slash line remains strong, and he's not in any sort of significant slump, but his fantasy appeal may take a hit if he continues to find himself on the bench several times a week.

Cabrera will sit Friday against the Rays.

Reports from Thursday indicated that Cabrera would be limited to starting every other game for at least the next week while he manages lingering knee pain. The Tigers appear to be sticking to that plan so far. Cabrera's production has dipped this year, as his .268/.317/.332 line is good for a career-worst 85 wRC+, but he's due $32 million next season, so he has a strong incentive to hold off on retirement for one more year. Victor Reyes will be the designated hitter Friday.

Brantley (shoulder) said Wednesday he hasn't swung a bat since landing on the 10-day injured list June 28 and is without a timeline to resume doing so, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "I don't want to put a timetable on [swinging a bat] because then I don't know if it's pushing too hard or not pushing hard enough. It's literally day by day," Brantley said.

Brantley's lack of meaningful progress in his recovery from the injury may have influenced the Astros' decision to acquire Trey Mancini from the Orioles prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. The fact that Brantley hasn't yet been moved to the 60-day injured list offers some hope that he'll be back in action by the second half of August, but a clearer target date for his return won't be established until he begins to ramp up his baseball activities.

Ohtani (forearm) went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs in Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Athletics.

After exiting late in Wednesday's 3-1 loss with a forearm cramp, Ohtani showed enough improvement overnight to fill his usual spot in the lineup for Thursday's series finale as the Angels' designated hitter. The two-way standout was responsible for two of the Angels' seven solo long balls on the day, as Los Angeles became the sixth team in MLB history to hit that many home runs and still lose. Ohtani, who is now up to 24 home runs on the season, looks like he'll be able to serve as the Angels' everyday designated hitter until his next turn on the mound comes up Tuesday in Oakland.