MLB Player News

McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Mets.

McCutchen started the scoring Sunday with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning off David Peterson. The veteran doesn't perform as well as he used to, but he still show flashes of excellence. He has two home runs and nine RBI in 101 plate appearances this season.

Winker went 1-for-4 with a walk and four runs scored in Sunday's 13-12 win over the Cubs.

Despite only collecting one hit, Winker still managed to cross home four times after a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He scored his final run in the 10th after starting the inning on second base. Winker has hits in 14 of his last 15 games and has scored eight runs over the last five.

Harper (wrist/face) will start in right field and bat third Sunday against the Mets.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since being struck in the face and wrist by a fastball Wednesday, but he'll return to his usual spot in right field for Sunday's series finale. Harper has a .321/.448/.615 slash line with six home runs, five doubles, 10 RBI and 17 runs through 23 games this season.

Vogelbach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

Vogelbach had picked up starts at first base in each of the past four games, going 1-for-14. The lefty-hitting slugger will head to the bench with southpaw Julio Urias on the bump for the Dodgers, but Vogelbach may have captured a large-side of platoon role for the time being. Keston Hiura will start at first base Sunday, but he was on the bench for the past four games after getting off to a 12-for-75 (.160 average) start to the season.

Blackmon is not in the lineup Sunday at Arizona, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Blackmon started the past six games and will take a seat Sunday after going 7-for-21 with two doubles, four walks, four RBI and two runs over the past week. Yonathan Daza will start in right field and bat sixth for Colorado.

Pederson (wrist) is participating in live batting practice Sunday at the Cubs' alternate training site, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old was with the Cubs earlier in the road trip while rehabbing the injury, but he has returned to the alternate site to take part in live batting practice. Pederson appears to be in the final stages of his rehab program from left wrist tendinitis and could return from the injured list sometime this week.

Winker (back) will start in left field and bat leadoff Sunday against the Cubs, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

After exiting in the seventh inning during Friday's series opener with a sore back, Winker sat out Saturday's 3-2 loss. The day off appears to have alleviated the pain in Winker's back, as he'll reclaim his normal role atop the lineup and in the corner outfield. With a 1.093 OPS through 87 plate appearances, Winker has been the Reds' most prolific hitter over the first month of the season.

Dickerson will sit Saturday against lefty Blake Snell and the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Dickerson broke out to hit .298/.371/.576 last season, but that success has so far not carried over into this year. He's been protected from same-sided pitching, starting just once against a lefty all year, but is still hitting just .224/.288/.373. Darin Ruf will be the left fielder in his absence.

Harper (wrist) will sit for the third straight game Saturday against the Mets.

Harper hasn't played since taking a fastball off his face and wrist in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. The Phillies made a set of transactions Saturday which didn't include sending Harper to the injured list, so it appears as though they expect him back on the field soon. Matt Joyce will make another start in right field Saturday.

Winker (back) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Winker left Friday's win over the Cubs in the seventh inning due to back tightness. While manager David Bell was originally hopeful that Winker could play Saturday, Tyler Naquin will start in left field and lead off.