MLB Player News

Harper went 1-for-2 with four walks, a three-run home run and two additional runs scored in Monday's 8-1 win over the Braves.

The 25-year-old superstar is absolutely locked in at the plate to begin the season. Not only does Harper have three homers and seven RBI through four games, he's drawn six walks and has yet to strike out. It's no wonder Atlanta's organist greeted him with the Imperial March from Star Wars when he came to the plate Monday. With a massive free-agent payday awaiting him in the offseason, Harper has all the incentive he needs to post huge numbers in 2018.

Turner (wrist) will resume swinging a bat next week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Turner's rehab is going as planned, as it was expected that he'd be able to resume swinging three weeks after breaking his left wrist. Barring any setbacks, Turner should be in line to join the Dodgers around the middle of May.

Pederson is starting in center field and batting leadoff Monday against the Diamondbacks, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

With Chris Taylor getting a breather for the first time all season, Pederson will take his spot in center field and atop the order. Pederson hit .250/.333/.375 in 36 plate appearances as the Dodgers' No. 1 hitter last season, and he could once again serve as the team's leadoff man when he starts for Taylor.

Ozuna went 3-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBI in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Mets.

After going hitless with five strikeouts in his first nine at-bats with the Cardinals, Ozuna broke through in the third inning Sunday, roping a double to deep left to score Tommy Pham. He would go on to collect two more base hits in his final three at-bats of the afternoon, giving him some confidence heading into the Cardinals' three-game series in Milwaukee that begins Monday. Since he hasn't struck out in more than 23 percent of his plate appearances the past three campaigns, Ozuna should be less prone to the extended slumps that often befall most power hitters over the course of a long season.

Harper hit two solo home runs, his first of the season, in a 2-for-4 game Sunday against the Reds.

Harper was productive in his first two games, going 2-for-6 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI, but Sunday marked his first explosive performance of 2018. Harper still has yet to prove he can consistently replicate the massive power numbers of his age-22 season of 2015, when he clubbed 42 home runs with a .649 slugging percentage. Sunday's effort serves as a good start in that direction.

Winker is out of the lineup Sunday against the Nationals.

Winker started the first two games of the year for Cincinnati, one in left and another in right field. He'll take a seat for the series finale, however, giving way to an outfield composed of Adam Duvall (left), Billy Hamilton (center) and Scott Schebler (right).

Turner is heading to extended spring training to continue rehabbing his broken wrist and resume baseball activities, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Several important tests will follow, but this report seems to indicate Turner is on schedule. The important run producer is expected to resurface with the major-league club sometime in May.

Blackmon went 2-for-4 in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks, accounting for all of the Rockies' offense with two solo home runs.

Someone forgot to tell Blackmon that the new humidor at Chase Field was supposed to suppress homers, as the 31-year-old left the yard three times in three games there to kick off his 2018 season. He could find it a little more difficult to continue his barrage when the Rockies begin a four-game set in Petco Park against the Padres on Monday.

Cespedes went 1-for-2 with a solo homer, three walks, and two runs scored Saturday against the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had a very tough time getting Cespedes out Saturday as he reached base four times, including a fifth-inning solo shot which helped chase starter Michael Wacha from the game. Cespedes now has a 1.457 OPS with two runs scored and four RBI through two games. It's a reminder of the kind of numbers he can put up when healthy.

Carpenter went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Mets.

The homer was an eighth-inning solo shot off Anthony Swarzak. Carpenter battled back issues for much of the spring but appears healthy to start the season. He's recorded a hit in both of the Cardinals' first two games.