MLB Player News

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.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the lineup as expected Friday, after missing the team's previous two games due to an illness.

Belt went 0 for 4 against the Cardinals, one of four Giants' starters to go hitless in the game. Belt is hitless (0 for 7) in two games with two strikeouts. 

After missing two games with an illness, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is back in the lineup Friday. 

Belt went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his only start of the season. Belt will bat sixth and play first Friday. Joaquin Arias started at first while Belt was sidelined.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper suffered a minor scare in Thursday's series finale against the Marlins.

After he slapped a single in the first inning, Ryan Zimmerman drove Harper home with a two-run double off the left-field wall. He collided with catcher Rob Brantly while scoring and momentarily grabbed his chin but didn't appear seriously hurt.

He stayed in the game and finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in a 6-1 victory. The 20-year-old is hitting .500 with a pair of home runs and three RBI through the first three games of the season.

Mets infielder Justin Turner started at second base Thursday against the Padres in place of Daniel Murphy, and Turner got hits in his first three at-bats of the season. He finished 3 for 4 with a double.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen stole two more bases on Thursday, bringing his total to four on the season. He has at least one steal in all three games this season. 

McCutchen predicted this back in January, telling CBSSports.com that he was going to work on stealing more bases in 2013, noting he only stole 20 bases last year.

"I want," McCutchen said, "to have a lot more than that."

But what is "a lot" more? 40? 50? McCutchen's career high is 33 (he stole 34 in a minor-league season), but if he's actively working on improving that one category, the sky could be the limit. 

I'll put a guess at 40 steals for McCutchen this year, based on him saying he wanted to steal more, his first three games and his proven ability to run. There's probably no way to buy low at this point, but feel free to wear a smug little smile for the rest of the day if you drafted him partially because of his stolen base comments. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen said in the offseason he wanted to focus on being more productive on the base paths in 2013. Thus far, McCutchen is succeeding as he is 2 for 2 on stolen-base attempts through two games.

"Small sample, but very encouraging to see," manager Clint Hurdle said of McCutchen pushing the envelope on the bases, per MLB.com. "Actions speak louder than words. In the winter, we talk about a lot of things, and his intent is to make the words jump off the paper and become real."

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen drove in his first run of the 2013 campaign Wednesday night against the Cubs.

He doubled home Garrett Jones in the fourth inning and came around to score on Starlin Castro's fielding error.

McCutchen finished 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base in the 3-0 win.

The 26-year-old has gone 2 for 6 (.333) through the first two games with two runs scored and two stolen bases.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was out of the lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday against the Dodgers as he continued to deal with an illness. Buster Posey played first base in his absence with Hector Sanchez getting the start behind the plate.

Belt went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts on opening day after batting .343 with a .596 slugging percentage during spring training.

Marlins vice president of player development Marty Scott said outfield prospect Marcell Ozuna might be out three more weeks while he recovers from a fractured left wrist, according to MLB.com. Ozuna sustained the injury crashing into a fence in late March.

Ozuna is expected to open the season at Double-A Jacksonville when he's recovered from his wrist injury.