MLB Player News

Pederson (back) remains on the bench Monday against the Padres.

Pederson exited Saturday's game against the Giants and didn't take part in Sunday's contest. He's reportedly feeling better but will sit for at least one more game. Ian Happ slides to left field in his absence, with Jake Marisnick starting in center.

Carpenter entered Sunday's loss to the Reds in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter, lacing a two-run double and scoring a run in one plate appearance.

The veteran is slowly but surely starting to string some success together at the plate, as he's now reached safely in four consecutive games. Carpenter's gradual surge actually dates further back, as he's slashing .304/.385/.522 with five doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs across the 26 plate appearances he's logged in the last 11 contests.

Winker went 3-for-4 with three home runs, six total RBI and a walk in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.

Winker had one of the best offensive showings of the year, as he took the Cardinals pitching staff deep three times while also reaching base through a walk. The slugging outfielder socked a two-run shot in the top of the first, added a three-run bomb in the second -- both off John Gant -- and delivered the game-winning run with a solo shot in the ninth off reliever Alex Reyes. As a result, Winker became the first player in franchise history to record multiple three-homer games in a single season and he leads the National League in dingers with 17. The 27-year-old outfielder is now hitting .350/.412/.665 with 17 homers and 37 RBI.

Miller went 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, two runs and one walk in Sunday's 12-6 win over the Nationals.

Miller had gone 0-for-12 with a walk and eight strikeouts across his last four games, but he bounced back with a dominant performance in Sunday's win. He's now slashing .276/.344/.474 with six home runs, 20 runs and 18 RBI this year.

Manager David Ross said prior to Sunday's 4-3 win over the Giants that Pederson is feeling "much better" after exiting Saturday's loss due to back tightness, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Pederson didn't start or appear off the bench in Sunday's series finale, but Ross' comments suggest the outfielder isn't at major risk of heading to the 10-day injured list. He'll continue to receive treatment heading into Monday's series opener in San Diego before the Cubs decide in the hours leading up to the 10:10 p.m. ET opening pitch whether Pederson is fit to return to the lineup.

Manager Gabe Kapler said Sunday that Belt (oblique) will likely be activated from the injured list during the Giants' upcoming five-game road trip that begins Tuesday in Texas, Mark W. Sanchez of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.

San Francisco was dealt a massive blow Sunday when Evan Longoria (shoulder) was placed on the IL with an injury that will likely sideline him 4-to-6 weeks, but the impending return of Belt cushions the loss of Longoria to some degree. Kapler said that Belt has resumed fielding ground balls and running the bases, activities that presumably represent the final hurdles he'll need to clear in his recovery from a left oblique strain. Since the Giants will have the designated hitter available for their two-game set in Texas, they would have the luxury of easing Belt back into the mix in a non-defensive role if they choose to activate him Tuesday.

Pederson (back) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Giants after leaving Saturday's game with back tightness.

Per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, manager David Ross said Kris Bryant was originally scheduled to return to third base for the series finale, but Bryant will instead need to fill Pederson's void in the outfield. Pederson remains day-to-day for the time being, and it's unknown if he'll be available off the bench Sunday.

Carpenter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Carpenter had started each of the Cardinals' last three games -- twice at second base and once at first base -- but he'll take a seat in the series finale while Tommy Edman returns to the keystone. Edman could end up seeing more time in right field for the foreseeable future while both Harrison Bader (rib) and Justin Williams (neck) are on the injured list, so Carpenter could have a path to semi-regular work at second base in the short term.

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

With a southpaw (Caleb Smith) on the hill for Arizona, the lefty-hitting Vogelbach will take a seat in favor of his short-side platoon mate at first base, the righty-hitting Keston Hiura.

McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer Saturday against the Nationals.

McCutchen is only hitting .219 with a .761 OPS on the season, but he has been seeing the ball well of late -- he extended his hitting streak to five games while going deep three times in that stretch. The veteran outfielder also has two multi-hit games and seven RBI during that five-game span.