MLB Player News

Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Pederson started Thursday against left-hander Christian Friedrich, but he will be held out Friday with a tougher southpaw -- Madison Bumgarner -- on the mound for the opponent. Enrique Hernandez will handle center field for the Dodgers on Friday night.

Soler (side) will likely return to action Sunday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Soler has started just one game since Sept. 16 due to the soreness in his side, but it appears he will be able to take the field once more before the regular season ends.

Stanton is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.

Stanton has just five hits in 10 games since rejoining the lineup Sept. 16, so manager Don Mattingly decided to hold him out. Marcell Ozuna will cover right field in Stanton's place, and Derek Dietrich will replace Ozuna in left field.

Harper (thumb) is in the lineup Friday against the Marlins, radio play-by-play announcer Charlie Slowes reports.

Harper had sat out the previous four games with a thumb injury, and with the Nationals already clinching the NL East title it wasn't a given that he'd return before the end of the regular season. He's apparently recovered enough though, as he'll slot back into the starting lineup to open up the final series of the year, manning his usual responsibilities in right field and batting third against Miami starter Andrew Cashner.

Manager Joe Maddon hopes Soler (side) can participate in batting practice during Chicago's weekend series with the Reds before working through a simulated game Tuesday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Soler likely isn't going to be a factor in the waning days of the 2016 fantasy season but may have at least a platoon role in the playoffs. Daily fantasy competitors for October ball may find a cheap stick to use against lefty pitchers.

Pederson is in the starting lineup and hitting eighth Thursday against the Padres.

It's just Pederson's seventh start in Los Angeles' 43 games against a left-handed pitcher this year. Perhaps the Dodgers figured he could handle Christian Friedrich, who's saddled with a 4.66 ERA. Pederson could be a sneaky daily fantasy punt play, but it's hard to argue strongly for a bat with a .091/.239/.164 line in 55 at-bats against southpaws.

Soler (side) joined the Cubs in Pittsburgh on Thursday but is not expected to play, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

Soler is back with the club a little sooner than expected, but he will not return to the lineup any earlier. It remains to be seen if he will get into a game before the regular season ends.

Harper (thumb) is out of Thursday's lineup against the Diamondbacks, CSN Mid-Atlantic's Chase Hughes reports.

This doesn't come as a major surprise, as the Nationals are being cautious with their star right fielder with the division sewn up. Thursday marks the fourth game in a row that Harper will miss with the thumb injury, with Michael Taylor getting the start in right field.

Turner is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.

Turner will take a rare seat against a right-handed pitcher Wednesday with the Dodgers facing Luis Perdomo. He's hitting .306 with a .925 OPS against righties on the year, but with the postseason approaching, manager Dave Roberts opted to give him a day off for the first time in over two weeks. Howie Kendrick will take over at third base Wednesday.

Soler (side) is expected to join the team for the weekend series in Cincinnati, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

He has missed the last three games after a side injury flared up over the weekend, but an MRI came back clean and he'll be with the club for the final series of the regular season. It's unclear when he will get back in the lineup, but the Cubs would undoubtedly like to have his bat available against lefties in the postseason, and if possible they would probably like to get him some at-bats before the end of the regular season to get him back in the zone.