MLB Player News

Belt went 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, a walk and three runs scored in Tuesday's 9-8 win over Arizona.

Belt came up a home run short of the cycle in San Francisco's comeback win. The first baseman went 0-for-12 in last weekend's series versus Washington, but he's now 5-for-7 in two games against Arizona. Four of those hits have gone for extra bases. The 33-year-old is slashing .241/.365/.475 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, 24 runs scored and two stolen bases through 170 plate appearances overall.

Blackmon isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Blackmon will get a breather after he went 2-for-10 with a run, an RBI, three walks and two strikeouts across the last three games. Yonathan Daza will shift to right field while Garrett Hampson starts in center.

Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday after the Phillies' 5-3 loss to the Dodgers that Harper (back) won't be available for Wednesday's series finale, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies lost both Harper and Jean Segura (groin) due to injuries Tuesday, though Girardi suggested the latter's health is a greater concern moving forward than the former. While Harper will sit Wednesday due to lower-back tightness, the Phillies are labeling him as day-to-day and are hopeful he'll be ready to go for this weekend's series in San Francisco following a team off day Thursday.

McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers.

McCutchen homered in his first at-bat of the evening and drove a low fastball over the wall in left-center field in the second to even the score at one. The 34-year-old wasn't seeing the ball very well for most of May but has come out hot in June with four home runs, 12 RBI and nine runs scored while slashing .333/.444/.778 with a 7:4 BB:K over 11 games.

Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with lower-back tightness, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 28-year-old had the injury crop up on a swing during his fourth-inning strikeout, and he didn't take the field for the bottom of the frame. Harper dealt with the same injury in mid-April and only missed one game, though the severity of the issue this time around remains unclear.

Harper was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with an apparent injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Harper struck out to open the fourth inning and was replaced in right field for the bottom of the frame. The specifics of the injury remain unclear, though it could be a back or side issue, as he appeared to suffer the injury during a swing.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday that there was previous optimism that Ruf (hamstring) would be able to return Thursday or Friday, but he may need a few additional days before being activated from the 10-day injured list, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Ruf has been out since suffering a strained right hamstring May 26. He ran the bases Monday and was hoping to be activated toward the end of the week. It still seems possible that he'll be reinstated at some point during the weekend series against the Phillies, though next Tuesday's series opener against the Angels might be a more likely return date at this point.

Winker is on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

The 27-year-old receives a day off after seven consecutive days in the lineup. Winker hasn't gone deep since his three-homer outburst June 6, but he has seven hits and four RBI in 25 at-bats as well as six walks in that seven-game span. Aristides Aquino gets the start in left field Tuesday.

Ruf (hamstring) ran the bases Monday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Ruf has been out since late May with a strained right hamstring. He resumed hitting, playing catch and fielding grounders last week and continues to make progress, though his exact return date remains unclear.

Dickerson (back) is expected to be activated from the injured list when first eligible Saturday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 30-year-old landed on the shelf with an upper-back strain June 9, and he's poised to rejoin the Giants after being sidelined for the 10-day minimum. Dickerson is struggling to open 2021 with a .226/.295/.398 line in 146 plate appearances, though he was 5-for-14 with two homers and four RBI over his past five games before going down with the injury.