MLB Player News

Harper was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants due to right forearm soreness, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper has been able to serve as the Phillies' primary designated hitter in spite of a UCL sprain in his elbow, but he'll be removed from Wednesday's lineup due to a sore forearm. Alec Bohm will serve as the designated hitter while Bryson Stott enters the lineup at shortstop. It's not yet clear whether Harper will be available off the bench.

Canha went 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 10-0 win over the Nationals.

Hitting leadoff against southpaw Patrick Corbin, Canha set the table in impressive fashion for a red-hot Mets offense. The veteran outfielder is on quite a roll himself, slashing .340/.400/.480 over his last 12 games with two homers, eight RBI and 13 runs.

Pederson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Phillies in 11 innings.

The 30-year-old didn't start against left-hander Ranger Suarez on Tuesday, but he entered as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and provided a pair of insurance runs with his two-run shot in the 11th. Pederson is in the midst of a seven-game hit streak, during which he's gone 11-for-23 with five home runs, 15 RBI and six runs.

The Giants placed Ruf on the bereavement list Tuesday.

San Francisco called up outfielder Heliot Ramos from Triple-A Sacramento to serve as a replacement on the active roster for Ruf, who left the team following the death of his father, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Ruf will be away for at least the next 3-to-7 days before the Giants would have to add him back to the roster.

Pederson will hit the bench Tuesday against the Phillies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Pederson got to start against the last lefty the Giants faced (Thomas Szapucki last Wednesday), but that remains the only time he's been in the lineup against a southpaw. He'll retreat to the bench against Ranger Suarez on Tuesday as Luis Gonzalez starts in left field.

Morel went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in a 3-1 loss to the Brewers in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader.

Morel has picked up four of his five stolen bases in his last four games, showing no hesitation to run. He was only 3-for-6 in stolen base attempts with Double-A Tennessee before joining the major-league roster. The versatile 22-year-old has earned regular playing time by hitting .286/.386/.469 with two home runs, five RBI and eight runs scored through 13 contests.

Morel is starting at second base and batting first in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

Morel led off the first game as well, giving him six straight starts atop the order, and he went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk. The rookie has gotten off to a nice start, batting .289 with an .885 OPS through his first 12 games in the majors, so the Cubs are rewarding him with regular playing time. As long as he's leading off games and hitting the ball consistently, Morel should be a fairly productive fantasy asset, particularly if he keeps racking up stolen bases. The 23-year-old has four steals in six attempts so far.

Belt (knee) hit in a batting cage Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt hasn't played in 12 days due to right knee inflammation. He's already eligible to return from the injured list, but his return isn't imminent. He remains in San Francisco to continue his recovery while his teammates are away on a 10-game road trip. It's unclear if he'll need a rehab assignment before returning to the active roster.

McCutchen will get a breather in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

The 35-year-old will be on the bench for the first time since returning from the COVID-19 injured list May 20, batting .231 with a homer, three RBI and four runs over nine contests. Keston Hiura is starting at designated hitter and will bat seventh in the first game Monday.

Blackmon went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two walks Sunday against the Nationals.

Blackmon took Josiah Gray yard to lead off the game and record his seventh home run of the season. He later grounded into a fielder's choice to tally his second RBI of the campaign. Blackmon reached base multiple times in three of Colorado's four games against Washington, and he also drove in five and scored three runs during the series. Overall, Blackmon is hitting .241/.309/.426 across 182 plate appearances.