MLB Player News

Blackmon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-1 victory over the Brewers.

Blackmon's monster 463-foot shot to right field gave Colorado a 7-0 lead in the eighth inning. He has hits in five of his past six games, going 7-for-23 with four extra-base hits during that stretch. The 36-year-old is slashing .275/.385/.431 with three home runs, nine RBI and 14 runs in 28 games.

Harper went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 10-6 loss against the Dodgers.

After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Tuesday in his first game back from Tommy John surgery, Harper seemed back to his old self Wednesday, reaching base safely five times with three hits, including a double, and two walks. Harper figures to see regular time at DH before eventually transitioning to first base. He slashed .286/.364/.514 with 18 home runs in 99 games last season with the Phillies.

Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Rockies.

Winker takes a seat against southpaw Kyle Freeland and Colorado on Wednesday. Rowdy Tellez will be the designated hitter and hit fifth while Luke Voit gets the start and first base and hits sixth.

The Diamondbacks designated Beer for assignment Wednesday.

The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Reno ahead of Wednesday's game against the Rangers. The 26-year-old Beer had yet to appear in the majors this season and slashed .200/.266/.314 in 79 plate appearances with Reno. His poor numbers at Triple-A and lack of defensive flexibility mean he's unlikely to be claimed off waivers.

Pederson is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Pederson will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench with left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound for the Astros. Wilmer Flores will operate as the designated hitter and hit fifth in the final game of the three-game series against Houston.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Detroit, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Tigers are bringing southpaw Joey Wentz to the hill for the opening game of the twin bill, so the lefty-hitting Vogelbach will predictably head to the bench. Mark Canha will fill in for Vogelbach as the Mets' designated hitter.

Harper (elbow) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his season debut Tuesday in a 13-1 loss to the Dodgers.

While Harper made an incredibly fast recovery from Tommy John surgery, a season debut like this one shows it's best to temper expectations with the 30-year-old for now. Harper will be limited to designated hitter initially, and he's expected to play at first base once he's cleared to throw with his surgically repaired right elbow. Fantasy managers will want to have him active quickly -- this is a player who slashed .286/.364/.514 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI, 63 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and 28 doubles over 99 games in an injury-plagued 2022 campaign.

Harper was activated Tuesday from the 10-day injured list.

As anticipated, Harper will make his 2023 debut as the Phillies' designated hitter Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, less than six months after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow. It's an incredibly swift return from that procedure and Harper might need regular days off out of the gate, but his return is worth celebrating and arrives as excellent news for fantasy managers who got him at a value this spring. The 30-year-old slugger has delivered a .940 OPS across his first four seasons with Philadelphia while averaging 36 home runs, 105 RBI, 17 stolen bases and 108 runs scored for every 162 games played.

Ruf (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Ruf landed on the 10-day IL last week due to inflammation in his right wrist, and he appears to be in line for close to a minimum stay. The 36-year-old veteran is slashing .261/.370/.348 in 27 plate appearances since being selected to the major-league squad in the middle of April.

Blackmon is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Brewers.

Kris Bryant will take a turn in the designated hitter role and bat second in the Rockies' series opener versus Milwaukee. Jurickson Profar, Brenton Doyle and Randal Grichuk are starting across the outfield.