MLB Player News

Mets second baseman Justin Turner played the outfield for the first time in his career Wednesday.

Turner did play one game in the outfield during spring training, but has primarily been used in the infield during the regular season. Turner didn't have a defensive chance Wednesday, so manager Terry Collins couldn't get a good grasp on his defensive performance. Collins hinted that this defensive alignment wouldn't happen often, saying "...to ask Justin Turner to play left field when he’s never played the outfield in his life, to start a game or to play there on a consistent basis, that’s a lot to ask."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper became the third National League player with 10 home runs this season by hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Tigers. The 1-for-3 day give him a .313/.395/.652 line in 129 plate appearances.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter reached base four times in Wednesday's series finale against the Cubs. He went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored in the 5-4 win.

The 27-year-old reached on an infield single in the fifth inning before hitting a double in the seventh.

Carpenter is batting .346 (9 for 26) so far in May with one RBI and five runs scored.

The Marlins have been tight-lipped about Giancarlo Stanton's hamstring injury, saying only that the best-case scenario is a return to the lineup in 2-3 weeks. Despite the lack of concrete information, Fantasy owners have no choice but to keep the slugger stashed, as Scott White notes in his Reality Check column.

White ranks Stanton as the No. 1 player currently on the disabled list. You don't need us to remind you that Stanton is an undroppable player, especially since he disappointed so badly prior to the injury. You have to hang on to Stanton for as long as it takes to recover, even as you grumble about how injury-prone he has proven to be in his young career. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen notched his second four-hit performance of the year Tuesday against the Mariners. McCutchen ripped a run-scoring double off of starter Aaron Harang in the first inning before singling in each of his next three at-bats.

He also stole his seventh base and finished 4 for 4 with an RBI and run scored in the 4-1 win.

McCutchen has hit safely in five of the last seven games and is batting .464 (13 for 28) with two home runs, one double and five RBI over that stretch.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters Tuesday that outfielder Bryce Harper will not be fined or suspended for his actions during Sunday's game against the Pirates. Harper was ejected that game after arguing a called third strike on a check swing with third-base umpire John Hirschbeck.

Harper is in the midst of a 2-for-22 slump and has not had a multi-hit game since April 27. He's hitting .312/.400/.633 with nine homers and 18 RBI through 109 at-bats. The 20-year-old carried a .284/.368/.523 line with four homers and 11 RBI through his first 109 at-bats last season.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring, has not started any baseball-related activities, MLB.com reports.

Stanton strained his right hamstring trying to beat out a swinging bunt attempt against the Cubs on April 30.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf is starting to find his hitting stroke at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. After belting one home run in his first 20 games, Ruf has gone deep three times in his last seven games.

Ruf is also batting .355 (11 for 31) in his last seven games as well, raising his season average to .250. His hot streak began with a two-homer outing April 28. Ruf has nine doubles, 14 runs and 15 RBI in 27 games.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna continues to make a solid impression as he recorded a career-high four hits and reached base five times during Sunday's series finale against the Phillies.

Ozuna doubled in two runs in the first, reached on an infield single in the fourth, singled in another run in the sixth and doubled in the eighth. He also drew a walk and finished 4 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI in a 14-2 victory.

Ozuna has hit safely in his first six games in the majors -- the second-longest streak to begin a career with the Marlins. He has gone 10 for 23 with a home run and four RBI. His 10 hits over through six games are the most ever by a rookie in franchise history.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was ejected from Sunday's game at Pittsburgh after arguing a called third strike on a check swing to end the top of the first inning. Believing the pitch was a ball, Harper gestured toward third-base umpire John Hirschbeck, who delivered the 20-year-old's second career ejection.

Harper finished the series just 2 for 10 with a strikeout in all three games as his batting average dipped to .312. He has gone eight games without a multi-hit performance -- his longest stretch of the young season.