MLB Player News

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper left Wednesday's game in the sixth inning after possibly suffering an injury during an at-bat. Harper seemed to be in pain after checking a swing and failed to run out a ground ball later in the at-bat.

The team checked out Harper in the dugout, and manager Davey Johnson replaced him in right field, where Harper was starting with Jayson Werth out, with Roger Bernadina. Harper was 0 for 2 with a walk and a run before exiting.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter posted his eighth multi-hit performance in Wednesday's series finale against the Reds. He went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in the 4-2 win.

Carpenter doubled in his first two at-bats before singling home Allen Craig in the sixth.

The 27-year-old is batting .370 (10 for 27) in his last seven games with one homer and two RBI.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter went 3 for 4 with two doubles in Wednesday's win over Cincinnati.

Carpenter scored a run and knocked another one in. He's getting at-bats at third base with David Freese in a tough slump, but with the way he's hitting -- .283/.349/.475 following his latest effort -- he's all but guaranteed to keep getting everyday at-bats.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna will start his second straight game Wednesday.

Ozuna had one hit in his major-league debut Tuesday. He'll bat fifth during Wednesday's game against Mets starter Dillon Gee. Ozuna was hitting .333/.383/.810 in 42 at-bats in Triple-A this year. He should get playing time as long as Giancarlo Stanton is on the disabled list. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was finally able to get his bat going Tuesday night against the Brewers. McCutchen, who had two hits in his previous 26 at-bats entering the game, had four hits in the 12-8 loss.

Three of his four hits were singles, including one in the first inning that scored Starling Marte. He also had a solo home run in the sixth -- his third of the year -- off starter Marco Estrada.

McCutchen finished 4 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored. He is batting .247/.308/.423 over 97 at-bats.

An MRI showed Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring. Stanton said the best-case scenario is he will return to the lineup in 2-3 weeks.

"I've got to be able to walk a normal pace first," Stanton said, per The Palm Beach Post.

The Marlins opted to go with prospect Marcell Ozuna over uber-prospect Christian Yelich with Giancarlo Stanton on the DL. That's their prerogative.

But as a Fantasy owner, I'd be much more excited if they had gone the Yelich route. Baseball America did rank Ozuna 75th among all prospects coming into the season, but more because of his tools than his production. As a 22-year-old with plate discipline issues who hit only .266 at Class A last year, he's likely to struggle regardless of what kind of start he got off to at Double-A Jacksonville.

He may run into a few home runs just because of his raw power, but ultimately, I think the Marlins will want to swap him out for Yelich, who appeared to be the more major league-ready of the two with a .364 batting average and 1.269 OPS in 44 spring at-bats. And it may happen even before Stanton returns.

If you dropped the Giants' Brandon Belt because of his slow start, you're not alone. In leagues where he was affordable enough for me to draft him, I've had to part ways with him because of limited roster space.

But I'm keeping an eye on him. Another slow start doesn't negate his good work late last season, nor does it make him a lost cause at age 25. In fact, you could explain it all away with that early season illness that caused him to lose 10 pounds. He fell behind early, put pressure on himself to catch up and only now is coming around with a .409 (9 for 22) batting average and two home runs in his last seven games.

Maybe. It's too early for me to rush out and grab him again, but it won't take much. Dropping a player isn't the same as giving up on him, and he's a perfect example why.

Marlins rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna was immediately placed in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Mets following his promotion from Double-A Jacksonville. Ozuna started in right field and hit sixth behind center fielder Justin Ruggiano.

Ozuna is expected to see the bulk of playing time in right field with Giancarlo Stanton on the disabled list.

"We just saw him play at Double-A. He’s looked good," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said, per The Palm Beach Post. "Defensively, he’s very good. We have a choice of outfielders, but right now, Marcell is the guy."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy dropped Brandon Belt into the eighth spot in the lineup Monday at Arizona for the first time this season since Belt had a poor track record against starting pitcher Ian Kennedy. It didn't seem to bother Belt.

The first baseman homered off Kennedy, who he had been 2 for 15 (.133) against coming into Monday's game, and broke open a 4-all tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning, lifting the Giants to a 6-4 win. 

"I liked it tonight," Belt said of batting eighth, per MLB.com. "I don't know if it's the ideal position. As a hitter you want to try to move your way up through the order."

Belt, who hit his second home run, appears to be emerging from a early season slump. Belt has hit safely in six of his last seven games, producing a .409 average (9 for 22), one double, two home runs and six RBI. He's sent his batting average surging from .183 to .244.