MLB Player News

Harper will sit Saturday against the Nationals due to an infected blister on his left hand, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row, as he sat for the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader. That may have been a scheduled game off, but Saturday's absence doesn't seem to have been planned. The issue apparently flared up overnight, so Harper will sit for at least one game while taking antibiotics to treat the issue. The Phillies have an off day Monday, so it's possible he sits Sunday as well in order to get three straight days to heal. Nick Castellanos will take his designated hitter spot while Matt Vierling starts in right field.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Pirates, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Pederson started in the last four games and went 3-for-10 with a homer, two runs, two RBI, two walks and four strikeouts. However, Luis Gonzalez will shift to left field while Darin Ruf starts in right against southpaw Jose Quintana.

Belt isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt went 3-for-6 with a solo home run, a double, two walks and a strikeout over the last three games but will retreat to the bench with left-hander Jose Quintana on the mound for the Pirates on Saturday. Wilmer Flores is starting at first base and batting second.

Blackmon went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Friday's victory over the Padres.

Blackmon's two RBI came on a triple in the first inning, where he sent Yonathan Daza to the plate and a sixth-inning single that scored Connor Joe. The veteran outfielder picked up two runs of his own, both of which came thanks to C.J. Cron homers. Blackmon has been swinging a hot bat lately, picking up a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, including six multi-hit games. Although his season batting average sits at .267, Blackmon is slashing .329/.365/.543 in June.

Pederson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over the Pirates.

Pederson doubled the Giants' lead in the fourth inning with a solo shot off Pirates starter Zach Thompson. The long ball was Pederson's first since June 3. The outfielder is up to 14 homers, 34 RBI, 28 runs scored, five doubles and two stolen bases with a .269/.343/.563 slash line through 181 plate appearances. He's on the strong side of a platoon role in left field, but he'll rarely see starts against southpaws.

Harper isn't starting in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Harper was productive in the first game of Friday's twin bill, as he went 3-for-4 with two runs and a walk. However, Kyle Schwarber will serve as the designated hitter while Matt Vierling starts in left field during the nightcap.

Canha went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a stolen base, a walk and two total runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Brewers. He was also hit by a pitch.

Canha tied the game at 4-4 with his fifth-inning blast. He was plunked in the seventh and stole second. The 33-year-old had 17 homers and 12 steals in 2021, but he has just five long balls and one steal through 52 contests this season. The veteran outfielder is slashing .295/.378/.404 with 26 RBI, 30 runs scored and five doubles across 209 plate appearances, and he's held down a regular role as New York's starting left fielder.

Morel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and two strikeouts during Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Padres.

Although the Cubs lost their 10th consecutive game Thursday, Morel hit a leadoff home run and stole a base in the defeat. The 22-year-old has crossed the plate in four of the last five games and has hit .238 with two homers, four runs, four RBI and a stolen base during that time.

Morel went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 19-5 loss to the Padres.

Morel took reliever Craig Stammen deep in the sixth inning for a solo shot -- his fourth of the season -- and plated two more runs on a one-out base hit in the bottom of the second. The two-hit, three-RBI performance ended a brief skid at the dish for Morel, who had recorded just one base knock in 15 at-bats over the prior four contests. The rookie is in the lineup for Thursday's series finale, manning center field and batting leadoff.

Belt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Wednesday against the Royals.

Belt made his first start since May 21 after being sidelined by a knee injury. He went yard in his second plate appearance to lead off the fourth inning and record his fifth homer of the season. Belt has a .341 wOBA and 122 wRC+ across 125 plate appearances on the campaign.