MLB Player News

Pederson isn't in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Pederson started in Friday's contest against a southpaw starting pitcher, but he'll sit Sunday against left-hander Drew Smyly. Chris Taylor will start in left field and bat fifth.

Ramirez is out after testing positive for COVID-19, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The Marlins have had a coronavirus outbreak, as Jose Urena, Jorge Alfaro and Garrett Cooper have all tested positive in recent days. Jon Berti is starting in right field and figures to see significant playing time in the short term.

Ramirez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Phillies.

He is 1-for-7 with a run, a walk, two strikeouts and one caught-stealing through two games. Jon Berti will start in right field and bat second. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that two starting position players on the Marlins have tested positive for the coronavirus, so Ramirez could be one of the two since he is not in Sunday's lineup.

McCutchen is not in Sunday's lineup against the Marlins.

He is 0-for-9 with three strikeouts and zero walks through two games. Jay Bruce will start in left field while Neil Walker gets the start at designated hitter.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a game-tying solo home run in Saturday's 5-3 extra-inning win over the Mets.

Mets closer Edwin Diaz was within one out of protecting a 2-1 lead when Ozuna knocked the game-tying homer into the right-field seats. The 29-year-old Ozuna will likely be a fixture in the heart of the Braves' order due to his powerful bat, but it remains to be seen if he'll serve more as a left fielder or a designated hitter in 2020.

Turner went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI in Friday's win over the Giants.

Turner drove in the Dodgers' second run of the game with a single to left field in the second inning. He added another RBI in the fourth frame with a double to deep left field to bring home Max Muncy. The 35-year-old is 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles over his first two games this season.

Belt (Achilles) is expected to return from the injured list Thursday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt has been battling an Achilles injury since early in camp. His placement on the injured list was backdated to July 20, so he'll be eligible to return a week into the season.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base in Friday's win over San Francisco.

Pederson worked on his flexibility during parts of spring and summer and demonstrated the results with a pair of stolen bases in intrasquad action, so Friday's theft may be indicative of a commitment to running more often this season. The slugger stole just one base both of the past two seasons, but he swiped between 26 and 31 bags in the minors for four straight campaigns between 2011 and 2014. It is also important to note that Pederson was in the lineup despite facing a southpaw starter, a rare occurrence in 2019. The 28-year-old's power is a given, but if he is able to play more consistently and add an occasional stolen base to his repertoire this season, his fantasy value could grow significantly.

Cespedes went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's win against the Braves.

Cespedes was playing in his first game in over two years after coming back from a pair of heel surgeries and a fractured ankle, but he looked like his old self as he blasted a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh inning. The home run proved to be the only run of the game in the Opening Day pitching duel. While the 34-year-old is still reportedly limited while running, Friday's performance as the designated hitter showed that he can still be a force at the plate.

Miller (ankle) arrived at the team's alternate training site in Springfield on Thursday night to get live at-bats, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The veteran utility man still needs to work his way up to running, but the at-bats will also help him keep his timing sharp after he was able to get some work against pitchers in summer camp. The Cardinals are aiming for Miller to be available by the start of next weekend's series against the Brewers, with his progress in the coming days revealing how realistic that timeline might be.