MLB Player News

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter was touted as a sleeper during Fantasy drafts, and has delivered on that promise through the season's first two weeks.

Due to an early injury to David Freese, Carpenter has already seen time at third and second base this season. In many leagues, he also has eligibility at first and in the outfield. While his bat profiles much better at second, he can also be used at third considering the lack of talent at the position to start the year. 

It's unclear how good Carpenter will be over the full course of a season, as he's never done it before. But given the lack of talent at second and third, he'll have some value even if he's just an average player going forward.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton said after Monday's 10-3 loss to the Nationals that he will try to take batting practice before Tuesday's contest. He has missed the last four games due to a shoulder contusion.

Stanton was examined by a doctor Monday after undergoing an MRI over the weekend.

"I told him where I was at. It's gotten better. But it's still there," Stanton told the Miami Herald. "The plan is to warm up tomorrow and swing and see where it's at. To bring [my left arm] up, forward, [my shoulder] doesn't like that. It feels like its being compressed. It hurts putting a shirt on. We'll see."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is not in the team's lineup Monday. Stanton has now missed four straight games while dealing with a shoulder contusion.

An MRI revealed there was no significant damage to his shoulder, and Stanton is not expected to be placed on the disabled list at this time. Stanton should be considered day-to-day unless something more significant develops.

"Stanton is the same," manager Mike Redmond told reporters. "He's still not able to do any baseball stuff either. He says his shoulder is still sore. We're playing shorthanded. We can’t play shorthanded for too long. It's too tough."

Opposing pitchers have been extremely hesitant when pitching to Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton this season.

Stanton has only seen 35.5 percent of pitches in the zone this year, as teams would much rather take their chances with the Marlins' lesser options. Stanton's walk rate has skyrocketed, and could remain higher than normal the entire season.

The whole situation is reminiscent of Adrian Gonzalez in 2009. Stuck on a poor Padres team, Gonzalez walked 119 times. His overall numbers weren't impacted much, as he made pitchers pay when they decided to throw the ball in the strike zone. Stanton could be in for a similar type of year.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton missed the series finale against Philadelphia Sunday -- his third straight game on the bench -- due to a lingering shoulder injury. Stanton, who is considered day to day, was replaced again in right field by Justin Ruggiano.

It appears the possible sweepstakes for Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton could be adding another team. After reports surfaced earlier this week that the Mets were considering a run at the young slugger, the Rangers have explored a scenario of what the price tag would be for Stanton, according to ESPN.com.

Miami has not indicated it is actively seeking to deal its last remaining star, but the 23-year-old will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. Stanton is hitting just .167 over nine games, but has walked eight times.

The Mets have not been able to find many starts for infielder Justin Turner this season, so they took advantage of the opportunity to slot him in as the designated hitter Saturday in Minnesota.

Turner batted eighth in the game and proved useful, going 3 for 4 with a double in a 4-2 win. Turner scored one run during a four-run fifth inning.

Turner is batting .467 with two extra-base hits and no RBI in 15 at-bats. He had started three hits, with all seven of his hits coming in those starts. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is considered day-to-day after being diagnosed with a left-shoulder contusion following an MRI Saturday, MLB.com reports. Stanton, who is hitting .167 through his first nine games, said he initially felt discomfort after making a diving catch against the Mets Friday.

As expected, Stanton was held out of the lineup for the second-straight game Saturday against Philadelphia as Austin Kearns took his spot in right field. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton missed Friday's game against the Phillies and has already been ruled out for Saturday due to a sore left shoulder. Stanton suffered the injury last Saturday against the Mets in New York.

“I wasn’t too sure if it was the weather or that dive. But it has been escalating,’’ he told the Palm Beach Post after Friday's game.

Stanton has been dealing with the soreness for a few days and said it got worse during warm-ups Friday. He is set to undergo an MRI Saturday that could reveal the extent of the injury. He might be forced to sit out Sunday's series finale as well. 

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen broke a 5-5 tie with a seventh-inning solo home run in his team's 6-5 win over the Reds Friday night. He also had a two-RBI single in the second inning to up his average to .265 with the 2-for-4 game.