MLB Player News

Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters prior to Friday's game against Atlanta that Harper (elbow) is unlikely to play first base until after the All-Star break, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Harper has increased his throwing distance to 120 feet, but the Phillies remain cautious with the left-handed slugger after his early return from Tommy John surgery. Since coming off the injured list Harper has slashed an impressive .347/.437/.547 with three homers and two stolen bases, but he won't gain new position eligibility until the end of July at the earliest.

Vientos isn't starting Friday against the Rockies.

Vientos has gone 2-for-14 (.143) since his promotion. Daniel Vogelbach will serve as the Mets' designated hitter Friday and bat seventh.

Canha isn't starting Friday against the Rockies.

Canha is 3-for-10 across his last three games and will take a seat to begin Friday's contest. Tommy Pham will take Canha's place in left field and bat eighth.

Winker isn't in Milwaukee's lineup Friday against the Giants.

Winker will begin Friday's game in the dugout as the Giants prepare to start a left-handed pitcher for the second consecutive game. Darin Ruf will assume the designated hitter role for Milwaukee and bat leadoff.

Harper went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run in Thursday's loss to Atlanta.

Harper smashed a big 445-foot solo blast in the fifth inning to tie the score 4-4. It snapped a 10-game skid without a long ball for the slugger and marked just his second RBI over his past 11 contests. Despite the recent lack of production, Harper has put up an excellent .347/.437/.547 slash line on the campaign.

Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and three total runs in an 8-5 win against the Phillies on Thursday.

Ozuna took Aaron Nola deep in the second inning for his 10th homer of the campaign. Eight of those have come over his past 17 contests, a stretch during which he is batting .333 (21-for-63) with 19 RBI. Ozuna was nearly unplayable early in the season, but he's turned things around in May, tying for fourth in the league with eight homers on the month so far.

Soler went 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's loss against the Rockies.

Soler cut the Marlins' deficit to 6-4 with a two-run shot off Pierce Johnson in the ninth inning, his 15th homer of the season. The three-hit performance was Soler's fourth multi-hit effort in his last five games, and he's gone 11-for-23 with four homers and eight RBI in that span. With his recent torrid stretch, Soler is slashing .261/.337/.560 with 32 RBI and 29 runs scored through 205 plate appearances this season.

Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Thursday against the Giants.

The Giants will open the game with southpaw Scott Alexander before turning it over to their bullpen, so Winker will start Thursday's contest in the dugout. Darin Ruf will fill in as Milwaukee's designated hitter and bat second.

Vientos is out of the starting lineup again Thursday versus the Cubs.

Vientos has now started only four of a possible eight games since his May 17 promotion from Triple-A Syracuse. Daniel Vogelbach will handle DH duties and bat seventh Thursday against the Cubs and right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Brett Baty is at third base and batting fifth.

Blackmon is not in the lineup Thursday against the Marlins.

Blackmon tripled, drew a walk and scored a run in Wednesday night's loss to Miami. Elias Diaz will get a turn as the DH and bat third with left-hander Braxton Garrett on the mound for the Marlins in Thursday's matinee. Austin Wynns is catching and hitting ninth.