MLB Player News

Blackmon is not in Saturday's lineup against the Phillies.

Blackmon sometimes sits against southpaws, and that will be the case in this one with Ranger Suarez on the hill for the Phillies. Kris Bryant is at designated hitter while Brenton Doyle gets the start in the outfield.

Canha will sit Saturday against the Nationals.

Canha hasn't been particularly productive at the plate this season, hitting .218/.294/.361 in 35 games. Jeff McNeil will move out to left field Saturday, with Luis Guillorme starting at second base.

Pederson went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run, two walks and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Pederson opened the scoring with a two-out blast in the first inning. The 31-year-old has gone 3-for-9 with two homers, three RBI, four runs scored and four walks over his last four games. For the season, he's slashing .235/.351/.494 with five long balls, 18 RBI, 12 runs scored, four doubles and a triple through 97 plate appearances as a strong-side platoon option. He's played exclusively at designated hitter this season.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a two-run double, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-3 win over the Rockies.

Harper put the Phillies on his back in the eighth inning. He knocked a two-run double to give them a lead, then stole third and scored when Elias Diaz's throw was errant. With four multi-hit efforts through eight games, there's little to reason to doubt Harper's bat since he returned from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old is slashing .344/.417/.500 with a home run, three RBI, nine runs scored and two doubles through 36 plate appearances, and the steal was his first of the season.

Morel went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 6-2 win over the Twins.

The Cubs batted Morel in the leadoff spot and the youngster responded with another good effort. Since getting recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, he's rattled off three straight multi-hit games, producing two home runs and five RBI. About the only blemish Friday was that Morel got caught stealing, but he's doing more than enough to earn a consistent spot in the lineup.

Martinez (back) is serving as the DH and batting cleanup Friday versus the Padres.

Martinez was activated from the injured list during the Dodgers' team off day Thursday and will step right back into the starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against San Diego. He had posted an .840 OPS with four home runs and 15 RBI through 23 games prior to suffering a lower back injury.

Morel is starting at second base and batting leadoff Friday night against the Twins.

The versatile 23-year-old has a prime opportunity to carve out more of a regular role with the Cubs as Nico Hoerner recovers from a left hamstring strain. Morel has gone 4-for-8 with a homer and a double in two games since being recalled Monday from Triple-A Iowa, where he was slashing .330/.425/.730 with 11 home runs, 31 RBI, four stolen bases and 31 runs scored through 29 games.

Winker is not in the lineup Friday against the Royals.

Luke Voit will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth with left-hander Josh Taylor getting deployed as the opener for Kansas City. William Contreras moves up to the No. 2 spot in the Brewers' batting order for Friday's series opener.

Ozuna is on the bench again for Atlanta's game in Toronto on Friday, Grant McAuley of 929 The Game reports.

Ozuna started the first game after Travis d'Arnaud returned but has now been benched each of the last two contests. The 32-year-old Ozuna had started seven in a row and has been on a power binge of late, but it's clear d'Arnaud's return is going to eat into his playing time.

Martinez was activated from the 10-day injured list by the Dodgers on Thursday.

Martinez will skip a rehab assignment and slide right back into the Dodgers' lineup for Friday's series opener against the Padres. The veteran designated hitter missed the last two-and-a-half weeks of action with lower-back tightness.