MLB Player News

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.

Carpenter blasted a pinch-hit three-run home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Pirates.

Carpenter has now homered as a pinch hitter in each of the last two contests, as he provided the Cardinals with some insurance with his three-run shot in the top of the sixth inning Friday. The 35-year-old hasn't started in any of the last five games and is now hitting .116 with three home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs this season.

Winker exited Friday's win over the Cubs due to back tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Winker was replaced by Mark Payton in left field to begin the seventh inning, and manager David Bell revealed after the game that the 27-year-old was dealing with a back issue. However, Bell was hopeful that Winker would be back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Vogelbach is starting at first base and batting second Friday against the Dodgers, Craig Coshun of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

This marks the first baseman's third consecutive start. Hitting just .196, Vogelbach hasn't excelled at the plate, but he has done enough to continue earning playing time over Keston Hiura.

Harper (face) is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets primarily due to a sore wrist, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The fastball that hit Harper's face Wednesday deflected into his left wrist, which is still sore two days later. While his wrist is bothering him more than his face, neither issue appears to be serious enough to send him to the injured list, with the Phillies calling his absence precautionary. Matt Joyce will fill in for him in right field Friday.

Harper (face) remains on the bench Friday against the Mets.

Harper left Wednesday's game against the Cardinals after getting hit in the face by a pitch and did not take part in Thursday's series finale. He hasn't been placed on the injured list, but it's not yet clear when the Phillies expect him back in the lineup. Matt Joyce will start in right field in his absence.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Thursday's loss to the Cubs.

Ozuna left the yard with a 414-foot solo homer against Adbert Alzolay in the sixth inning. It was the second long ball in as many games for the 30-year-old, who's starting to turn things around after a slow start at the plate this season, having hit safely in four consecutive games. On the year, he's batting .189/.287/.295 with three home runs and 13 RBI.

Turner went 2-for-4 with two singles in a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.

Continuing his scorching April, Turner singled in the first and eighth innings but was left stranded on both occasions as the Dodgers struggled to string hits together. The veteran third baseman is now slashing a robust .344/.425/1.047.

Carpenter slugged a pinch-hit three-run home run in Thursday's win over the Phillies.

Carpenter turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead with a long ball off Aaron Nola, the veteran's second homer this season. The batted-ball numbers point to a lot of bad luck for Carpenter early on, but the lack of production has eaten into his time regardless. His last start for St. Louis was back on April 23.

Pederson (wrist) will travel with the Cubs for the start of a three-game road series with the Reds that begins Friday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Though Pederson is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list Saturday, manager David Ross suggested that the outfielder is simply traveling with the team to continue his rehab process. With that in mind, the Cubs may not necessarily be looking to activate Pederson ahead of the final two games of the series with Cincinnati. Before getting shut down due to left wrist tendinitis, Pederson was slashing .137/.262/.235 with a 32.8 percent strikeout rate over 61 plate appearances.