MLB Player News

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.

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.