MLB Player News

Belt went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Padres.

It was Belt's 15th home run of the season, and his third over the past 12 contests. The 31-year-old has notoriously been a streaky hitter, but he was stuck in one of the biggest ruts of his career for the good part of two months. That said, he is starting to show a little life at the plate, and it wouldn't be outlandish for him to go on a healthy hot streak to close out 2019 based on his track record. Belt's fantasy owners got even more good news when the first baseman stuck in the two hole, even with Buster Posey returning to the lineup Thursday.

Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Reds.

With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 12th, Ramirez took Raisel Iglesias deep for a walkoff home run victory. The long ball was the eighth of the season for 24-year-old outfielder, who is batting .268/.303/.399 with 42 runs scored across 91 games.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI and three runs Wednesday in the Phillies' 12-3 rout of the Pirates.

Harper was away from the Phillies over the weekend while on paternity list, but the absence hasn't appeared to disrupt his rhythm at the plate. He went 4-for-14 with a home run, stolen base, five runs and two RBI during the series with Pittsburgh, bringing his August OPS to .998 through 22 games.

Winker (neck) returned to Cincinnati on Wednesday to receive additional treatment for his cervical strain, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Winker was rehabbing with the team during the current road trip but returned to Cincinnati due to his slow progress. The 26-year-old didn't suffer a setback, but manager David Bell noted Winker wasn't responding to treatment as quickly as hoped.

Pederson was a healthy scratch from Wednesday's lineup against the Padres, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Enrique Hernandez is starting in right field and hitting seventh in place of Pederson, who is slashing .231/.315/.446 with four home runs through 24 games this month.

Pederson (undisclosed) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Padres.

It's unclear why Pederson was removed from the lineup at this point. Enrique Hernandez is starting in right field and hitting seventh in his place.

Blackmon is starting in right field and hitting second Wednesday against the Red Sox, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Blackmon has hit .324 with six home runs and a .952 OPS in 24 games this month, but Trevor Story is getting the nod atop the order for Wednesday's series finale with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez starting for Boston.

Ramirez is not starting Wednesday against the Reds, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Ramirez has started the past six games and gone 5-for-25 with two doubles and a 32 percent strikeout rate. Garrett Cooper is covering right field in his place, with Neil Walker starting at first base.

Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the Red Sox.

Blackmon had gone hitless in 14 at-bats over his previous four games, which qualified as a slump for the outfielder before he broke out Tuesday. He'll carry a .320/.365/.588 batting line into Wednesday's series finale and should make for an elite fantasy option the rest of the week with four more games at Coors Field to follow.

Pederson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's victory over San Diego.

Pederson lifted a ball over the right field wall in the third inning for his 27th homer of the season. That surpasses the 26 he hit as a rookie in 2015, and his power production this season has come in over 150 fewer plate appearances. The difference is partly explained by Pederson's current role as a left-handed platoon player; whereas he had 116 at-bats against southpaws in his first year, he has only 41 (with no long balls) this season.