MLB Player News

McCutchen isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers.

McCutchen is getting a rare day off after he hit .222 with two doubles, five runs, two RBI, two walks and six strikeouts over the last seven games. Keston Hiura will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.

Ozuna remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Ozuna finds himself on the bench for the third game in a row, all of which have come against right-handed pitching. With Atlanta making more room of late at designated hitter for William Contreras and Eddie Rosario and in left field for Rosario and Robbie Grossman, the righty-hitting Ozuna looks like he might have to settle for a short-side platoon role, at best. Ozuna's declining playing time comes while he's slashed an ugly .184/.192/.329 with a 32.1 percent strikeout rate in 19 games since the All-Star break.

Harper (thumb) took a round of batting practice Wednesday and will do so again later this week before potentially beginning a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Interim manager Rob Thomson said that if Harper's surgically repaired left thumb checks out fine following the two rounds of BP, the reigning National League MVP will likely report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to resume game action. Before landing on the IL on June 26, Harper had been serving exclusively as a designated hitter for Philadelphia since mid-April due to a torn ligament in his right elbow. Despite having ample time off to heal, Harper doesn't look on track to play the outfield again in 2022, as he had his throwing program tabled earlier this month when he experienced some stiffness in the elbow. The playoff-hopeful Phillies would still obviously welcome Harper back in an offense-only role, and though an official timeline for his return hasn't been established, club officials told Lauber that the 29-year-old is expected to be activated on or around Sept. 1 if he remains free of setbacks over the next couple of weeks.

Morel isn't starting Wednesday against the Nationals.

Morel started the last three games but went just 1-for-9 with a solo homer, a walk and six strikeouts. Rafael Ortega is starting in center field and batting sixth.

Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Blackmon delivered nearly all of Colorado's offense Tuesday, first tallying an RBI single in the sixth inning. He drove in two additional runs on a double one frame later. Entering Tuesday's game, Blackmon had hit only .190 with two home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored across 21 games since the All-Star break. In part due to that prolonged slump, Blackmon has only a 94 wRC+ across 459 plate appearances on the season.

Reyes went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Tuesday's extra-innings win over the Nationals.

Reyes made his Chicago debut a week ago, and he now has hits in six straight games to begin his tenure, with a double, a triple and two home runs. The 27-year-old has been productive at the MLB level before, including last year when he launched 30 home runs for Cleveland, so the Cubs may have found something. Reyes should at least continue seeing regular playing time as the team's DH down the stretch, and he's squarely on the fantasy radar if he's hitting like this.

Pederson (hand) is starting in left field and batting leadoff Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 30-year-old exited Sunday's game with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch and was held out of the lineup Monday, but he'll rejoin the starting nine for Tuesday's contest. Pederson is 7-for-18 with three doubles, three RBI and two runs in eight games since returning from a brief stint on the concussion IL in early August.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Ozuna did not start Monday, and he will remain in a reserve role for at least another day. William Contreras -- like he did Monday -- will serve as Atlanta's designated hitter.

Canha is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Atlanta.

Canha seemed to have moved into a short-side platoon role in the outfield earlier this month following the team's acquisition of Tyler Naquin, but Canha had started in both of the Mets' last two games against right-handed pitching, going 3-for-8 with a double, an RBI and a run between the contests. Though he'll take a seat Tuesday against righty Charlie Morton, Canha seems to have at least temporarily reclaimed the primary left fielder job from Naquin.

Atlanta selected Goins' contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

The addition of Goins provides Atlanta with a utility option in the infield after Ehire Adrianza (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list over the weekend before being transferred to the 10-day IL. Vaughn Grissom, Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley are still expected to see the overwhelming majority of starts at second base, shortstop and third base, respectively, so Goins' opportunities with Atlanta are likely to be scarce while he's up with the club. The 34-year-old was hitting .220/.249/.271 in 250 plate appearances at Gwinnett this season.