MLB Player News

Morel is starting in center field and batting seventh in Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Morel homered Friday, so the Cubs will reward him with his fourth straight start. The 22-year-old is off to a hot start in his MLB career with two home runs and a 1.371 OPS through 11 at-bats. Those numbers are unsustainable, but fantasy managers may want to give Morel a look in the short term while he's this locked in at the plate.

Ruf went 2-for-3 with two home runs, two walks, three runs and three RBI in an 8-7 loss to San Diego on Friday.

Picking up the start with lefty Sean Manaea on the mound, Ruf was the driving force in San Francisco's lineup with a two-run home run in the third, a solo shot in the fifth and two walks later in the game. After a sluggish April during which the 35-year-old batted .177, Ruf is slashing .378/.508/.644 in 45 May at-bats with three home runs and 12 walks compared to only 10 strikeouts.

Soler went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta.

His sixth-inning shot off Charlie Morton wrapped up the scoring on the night for the Marlins. Soler has eight homers on the season, but six of them have come in May. Through 16 games on the month, he's slashing .246/.313/.574 with 14 RBI.

Ozuna went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 win over the Marlins.

He staked Atlanta to a 3-0 lead by taking Trevor Rogers deep in the first inning. Ozuna has gone yard in three straight games and four of the last six as part of a seven-game hitting streak, but the surge has only boosted his slash line on the year to .224/.268/.414 as he pulls himself out of a deep early season hole.

Belt isn't starting Friday against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt started in the last eight matchups but will get a breather after he went 1-for-17 with a run, a walk and seven strikeouts over the last four games. Wilmer Flores will shift to first base while Thairo Estrada enters the lineup at the keystone.

Pederson isn't starting Friday against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Pederson has operated in the strong side of a platoon this year, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight game since left-hander Sean Manaea is on the mound Friday. Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Luis Gonzalez are starting in the outfield from left to right.

Morel went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Friday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Morel has gotten off to a fast start in his MLB career, as he now has two home runs, three RBI and a 1.371 OPS through four games (three starts). The 22-year-old got the call from Double-A Tennessee to provide some outfield depth with Jason Heyward hitting the COVID-19 injured list, but Morel is making a case for more extended playing time if he stays this hot at the plate.

McCutchen (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

McCutchen has been sidelined the past two weeks after testing positive for the virus, but he'll rejoin Milwaukee's active roster ahead of Friday's matchup with Washington. The 35-year-old has a .240/.291/.350 slash line with two home runs, 14 RBI, 11 runs and three stolen bases in 110 plate appearances this year.

Harper (elbow) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old was initially expected to miss only one game after receiving a PRP injection last weekend to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow, but he'll now be sidelined for the fifth straight contest. Harper has been limited to serving as the designated hitter for most of the season due to the injury, though it hasn't affected his ability to hit given his .305/.361/.634 slash line with nine home runs, 27 RBI, 29 runs and six stolen bases. It's unclear when he may be able to rejoin the lineup, and for now he should be considered day-to-day.

Soler (back) will bat third as the designated hitter Friday against Atlanta, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Soler sat out the past two games while battling lower-back stiffness, but he'll return to the lineup for Friday's series opener. The 30-year-old is in the midst of a seven-game hit streak during which he has three home runs and a .940 OPS.