MLB Player News
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Breaks home run drought
Turner went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a 3-2 victory against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
This was Turner's first homer since June 14, and just his second of the month. Turner hit five long balls in May, but April was a very dry homer period too, as he only had one in that month. Turner's power has been increasingly deteriorating since he smashed a career-best 27 homers in 2016. Part of his decline has been the fact he hasn't been completely healthy the last couple years. He's on pace to hit between 15-20 homers this year, and so far, he's missed minimal time in 2019 because of injury. Turner is batting .300 with eight home runs, 31 RBI, 38 runs and one steal in 260 at-bats this season.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Dodgers' Joc Pederson: On bench against lefty
Pederson won't start against lefty Robbie Ray and the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Pederson remains in his typical platoon role. After starting four straight games at first base, he'll give way for Matt Beaty for Tuesday's contest.
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Reds' Jesse Winker: Sits against lefty
Winker will be on the bench against lefty Andrew Heaney and the Angels on Tuesday.
As per usual, Winker won't get to start against a southpaw. Phillip Ervin gets the nod in left field in his absence.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Will rest Wednesday
Turner will sit for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
The Dodgers play a day game Wednesday coming off a night game, so manager Dave Roberts said Turner will get a maintenance day for the midweek road tilt with Arizona. Roberts said he hasn't decided who will man the hot corner in Turner's place, but Russell Martin has been taking reps at the position and is a potential option.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Getting breather
Belt is not in the lineup Monday against the Rockies, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Belt will head to the bench for Monday's series opener after starting the past 10 games, slashing .118/.262/.147 with a 7:6 BB:K during that stretch. In his place, Pablo Sandoval is starting at first base and hitting cleanup.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Phillies' Andrew McCutchen: Shifts to 60-day injured list
McCutchen (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Monday.
The move has no effect on McCutchen's recovery timeline, as he's already been ruled out for the season following knee surgery. It clears up a spot on the 40-man roster for the Phillies to select Fernando Salas' contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Resting Sunday
Blackmon is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Dodgers, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Blackmon saw his 11-game hit streak come to an end after going 0-for-5 on Saturday, so he'll take a seat for the series finale. The 32-year-old has been on fire since coming off the injured list June 8 with a .426/.443/.882 slash line, eight home runs and 18 RBI in 68 at-bats. Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson and David Dahl will start from left to right in the outfield Sunday.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna: Slugs 20th homer
Ozuna went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in a win over the Angels on Saturday.
Ozuna left the yard for the second time in as many games with a 402-foot shot to left in the sixth that doubled up a 2-0 lead for the Cardinals at the time. The slugging outfielder is enjoying his best month of the season thus far in June, as Saturday's production brought his average to .307 since the calendar flipped. Additionally, Ozuna has now reached the 20-homer threshold in four consecutive seasons, and he's just three round trippers away from matching the 23 he hit in 2018 over 317 additional plate appearances.
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Bryce Harper DH | PHI
Phillies' Bryce Harper: Clubs 13th homer
Harper went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two RBI and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Marlins.
Harper put the Phillies on the board with his solo shot in the third inning and also brought home another run with an RBI single in the fifth. The 26-year-old moved to the leadoff spot Thursday and is 4-for-13 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base from atop the lineup.
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Harold Ramirez DH | WAS
Marlins' Harold Ramirez: Sitting out Saturday
Ramirez is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
With a .314/.343/.416 slash line (105 wRC+) since being promoted from Triple-A New Orleans in early May, Ramirez has easily established himself as a regular outfielder for a hapless Marlins squad. He'll merely be getting a maintenance day Saturday after starting in all but one game since May 19.