MLB Player News

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.

Pederson will sit Monday against lefty David Peterson and the Mets.

There were suggestions before the season that Pederson would have a true everyday role rather than merely being a platoon player, but that hasn't really happened. He's started against just seven out of the 19 lefties the Cubs have faced, including just two of the last seven. Kris Bryant will move to left field in his absence.

Carpenter is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Carpenter isn't lighting the world on fire with a .764 OPS through his first 11 games of June, but the improved production at the plate is good enough to guarantee him a regular starting role at second base for the time being. The Cardinals could still choose to withhold the lefty-hitting Carpenter from the lineup against southpaws, which will be the case Monday with lefty Braxton Garrett on the hill for Miami. Edmundo Sosa will get the nod at the keystone, ending a streak of five consecutive starts for Carpenter.

Winker went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Rockies.

Winker made his presence felt on the scoresheet in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he plated home both Kyle Farmer and Shogo Akiyama with a ground ball to center. He now has 12 doubles on the year to go along with 17 homers, 39 RBI and a .344 average. Winker already has 11 RBI in June.