MLB Player News

  • Brandon Belt DH | TOR

    Giants' Brandon Belt: On bench against lefty

    Belt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

    He'll be on the bench for the second day in a row with Milwaukee bringing another lefty (Aaron Ashby) to the hill for the series finale. Yermin Mercedes will step in at designated hitter for Belt, who has yet to return to first base since suffering a knee injury earlier this month.

  • Cubs' Christopher Morel: Back as leadoff hitter

    Morel is starting in center field and batting first in Sunday's game against the Mets.

    Morel sat in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader but will return for the series finale and last game before the All-Star break. The rookie has had a nice first half with an .814 OPS through 54 games, and he's chipped in nine home runs and eight stolen bases.

  • Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT

    Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Gets breather Sunday

    Ozuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

    Ozuna will hit the bench for the second time in less than a week while he heads into the All-Star break amid a slump at the plate. Over his last eight games, Ozuna went 4-for-29, dropping his season average to .221. Atlanta will give Ronald Acuna a day out of the outfield and deploy him as the designated hitter Sunday in place of Ozuna.

  • Darin Ruf DH | MIL

    Giants' Darin Ruf: Homers in consecutive contests

    Ruf went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Brewers.

    Ruf opened the scoring in the sixth inning with a blast off Brewers starter Eric Lauer. This was Ruf's second straight game with a homer, and he's up to nine long balls on the year. The 35-year-old has hit safely in nine of 15 games in July, though he hasn't record a multi-hit effort since June 23. He's slashing .227/.336/.376 with 32 RBI, 41 runs scored and two stolen bases through 283 plate appearances. Ruf should continue to work his way into the lineup regularly versus southpaws.

  • Cubs' Christopher Morel: Not starting evening game

    Morel will sit for the second portion of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets.

    Morel went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in the first game, dropping his OPS in his surprising rookie season slightly to .816. David Bote will handle second base in the nightcap.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Giants' Joc Pederson: Sits against lefty

    Pederson isn't starting Saturday's game against Milwaukee.

    Pederson will head to the bench after three consecutive starts since left-hander Eric Lauer is on the mound for the Brewers. Yermin Mercedes is starting in left field and batting fifth.

  • Brandon Belt DH | TOR

    Giants' Brandon Belt: Sitting against southpaw

    Belt isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Brewers.

    Belt started the last three games but will head to the bench with left-hander Eric Lauer on the mound Saturday. Darin Ruf is taking over at first base and batting third.

  • Mark Canha LF | TEX

    Mets' Mark Canha: On bench for matinee

    Canha isn't starting the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

    Canha went 4-for-14 with a solo homer, four walks and six strikeouts over his last four matchups but will take a seat for a second consecutive game. Jeff McNeil is shifting to left field while Luis Guillorme starts at second base.

  • Darin Ruf DH | MIL

    Giants' Darin Ruf: Swats solo shot

    Ruf went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.

    Ruf's ninth-inning blast got the Giants within a run. He's mostly been limited to a timeshare role at first base and in the outfield lately, though he's hit safely in eight of 14 games in July. The 35-year-old is up to a .227/.337/.366 slash line with eight homers, 31 RBI, 40 runs scored and two stolen bases through 279 plate appearances. He should continue to play regularly versus left-handed pitchers.

  • Justin Turner DH | CHC

    Dodgers' Justin Turner: Knocks in four

    Turner went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-1 win over the Angels.

    All three of Turner's hits were singles. His first RBI of the game came on a groundout in the first inning, and he added a two-run single in the sixth and a one-run single in the eighth. This was the third baseman's third three-hit since June 30, and he's gone 22-for-50 (.440) in that span. The 37-year-old is slashing .254/.326/.403 with eight home runs, 51 RBI, 39 runs scored, one stolen base and 21 doubles through 344 plate appearances.

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