MLB Player News

Matt Carpenter put together his best game of the season with four hits, a home run, two runs and two RBI in five at bats for the Cardinals Wednesday against the Reds.

Carpenter is now hitting a robust .400/.462/.629 with six RBI. He's showing why the Cardinals are willing to carve out places in the lineup even if he has to play out of his normal position -- Wednesday marked his second game at second base this season, and if he continues to hit like this the Cardinals will be loathe to put him on the bench regardless of his fielding chops.

When Daniel Descalso got the start over Matt Carpenter at second base for the Cardinals in David Freese's return from the DL Tuesday, the Fantasy owners who targeted Carpenter as their eventual second baseman were worried. Even when he returned to the lineup Tuesday, it didn't eliminate those feelings of doubt given that he was replacing Freese rather than Descalso.

You can breathe, Carpenter owners. Both he and Freese were in the lineup Wednesday, with Carpenter at second base, and as of the seventh inning, our ace in the hole had gone 3 for 4 with a homer. I'd say his role is safe.

And I maintain he's Martin Prado, Part 2.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continues to work on his plate discipline and has started to show some patience after starting the season hitting .174 through his first seven games.

Stanton told the Palm Beach Post that he saw two pitches that he wanted to hit among the 21 thrown to him Monday against the Braves. He instead drew three walks.

"We got to keep talking to him about it, trying to get him to relax and be patience," manager Mike Redmond said. "That's half the battle. Everybody wants to get hits and get off to a quick start, but at the same time you got to relax and slow the game down, let the game come to you."

Stanton has mustered just four hits and struck out 11 times but has seven walks. He received 46 walks in 123 games last season. Though pitchers continue to work around him, Redmond hopes that the 23-year-old can turn things around soon.

"Somebody is going to make a mistake and he's going to make him pay," Redmond said. "Once he does that that will alleviate any stress."

Mets first baseman Justin Turner will start Tuesday against the Phillies.

Turner will take on Cliff Lee. Ike Davis has been given a day off against the tough left-hander, and should return to the lineup for the next game. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt may only have one hit thus far, but his manager still has confidence in his abilities, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bruce Bochy said that Belt's struggles may have warranted a stern talk in season's past, but he's less concerned about the first baseman this year. Bochy credits that to Belt's experience, saying "he knows he can hit. He had a great spring. He's thrown out some good at-bats. That's the reason I don't need to talk to him and sit him down."

Bochy has been willing to pull Belt out of the lineup in the past, but that doesn't seem to be the case this season. While he's struggled to get things started, Belt should have enough time to turn things around. That's not a luxury he had in the past. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter enjoyed another solid performance as he plated three runs in Sunday's series finale against the Giants.

Carpenter erupted in the fourth inning with two singles, one of which drove in two runs to help cap off a nine-run frame. He also added an RBI double in the eighth and finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI in a 14-3 victory. He is hitting .320/.414/.480 through his first six games.

After posting a career-high 31 homers last season, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen connected on his first long ball of 2013 in Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers.

He launched a two-run shot off starter Hyun-Jin Ryu in his first at-bat and finished 1 for 4 in the 6-2 loss. McCutchen is batting .238 (5 for 21) with four RBI and four stolen bases through six games.

Here we go again with Brandon Belt. After a torrid spring, one in which he hit .410 with eight homers and 19 RBI in 24 games, Belt is off to a slow start to the regular season, going hitless in his first 10 at-bats (three games).

Although I still believe Fantasy owners should hang onto Belt, there's no need to rush him into lineups for Week 2 (April 8-14). The Giants might have seven games, but they are set to face three left-handed starters -- Jorge De La Rosa, Jeff Francis and Travis Wood. History tells us Belt struggles against left-handed starters, against whom he has a career .235 average with three homers and 11 RBI in 64 games. Also, the three games against the Rockies this week are not at Coors Field.

Matt Carpenter will get the start at second base for the Cardinals Sunday, the club announced.

Carpenter has played all five games for St. Louis this season at third base. He's expected to take over full time at second base when David Freese returns from the disabled list. Ty Wigginton gets the start at third base Sunday.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4 -- his first multi-hit game this season -- during Miami's 7-3 loss to the Mets on Saturday. Stanton laced two singles while also halting a four-game skid with at least one strikeout (seven total).

The 23-year-old slugger has just two extra-base hits this season (both doubles), extending his typical slow starts in April from a power standpoint. Last season, Stanton did not his first homer until April 29 after needing 14 games before he went deep for the first time during the 2011 campaign.