MLB Player News

Stanton went 3-for-4 with two home runs - his 16th and 17th of the year - and five RBI against the Mets on Tuesday.

The slugger matched his career high for RBI in a game to lift the Marlins to a much-needed with against their divisional foe. Stanton is certainly showing signs of progress after a horrid start to 2016, but that improvement still isn't coming as quickly as owners want. Despite recording hits in eight of his last 12 games, the outfielder's average has only risen 10 points and still sits at a putrid .226 through 265 at-bats. However, Tuesday did mark his first multi-homer game of the season and compensated some for his .091 average in his six previous games against the Mets this year.

Turner is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Chris Taylor will get the nod at third base as Turner sits following six consecutive starts. Turner has picked it up at the plate considerably over the past month or so, posting a .922 OPS with eight homers in June. He's battled hamstring and toe ailments in recent weeks and this looks like a routine maintenance day for the 31-year-old.

Cespedes went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Monday's win over the Marlins.

The two RBI turned out to be the winning runs on an RBI double off Fernando Rodney in the eighth inning. Cespedes extended his hitting streak to eight games with the effort, which includes four multi-hit efforts and now five extra-base hits after his two doubles Monday. His batting line sits at .300/.366/.578 as he continues to show his monster second half last year was no fluke.

Belt had a big day at the plate Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a double, two walks, a pair of RBI and a run scored in a win over Arizona.

The Giants needed this performance from Belt with so many of their regulars sidelined. He came through, as he has all year, with another solid across-the-board effort. Belt continues to progress at the plate, seeing his strikeouts drastically drop to 18.0% and his walks skyrocket to 14.7%. With elite plate discipline numbers like those, he is exponentially more valuable in advanced leagues that use on-base percentage instead of batting average.

McCutchen (heel) will return to the lineup Monday according to manager Clint Hurdle, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

McCutchen's ailment must have proven to be minor, as he'll return to action after just one day off. He'll presumably return to center field for the afternoon matchup against the Cardinals.

Harper went 2-for-4 with a solo shot, his 17th home run of the season, in Sunday's blowout win over the Reds.

Despite the blast, he actually lost the team HR lead to, of all people, Danny Espinosa after the shortstop hit two more homers of his own Sunday. Harper's coming out of his slump, though, hitting .391 (9-for-23) over his last six games with two HR and five RBI, and it's just a matter of time before he surges ahead of Espinosa once again.

Updating a previous report, Belt will get the starting nod in left field Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Belt was originally scheduled to get the day off with left-hander Robbie Ray on the mound for Arizona, but the late scratch of Gregor Blanco (knee) resulted in a lineup reshuffle. Jarrett Parker will move from left field to center, while Belt is inserted in left to cover for him (Buster Posey is currently listed as the starting first baseman).

Belt is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, freelance writer Andrew Baggarly reports.

Belt has made three consecutive starts against left-handed pitching, but will sit on Sunday afternoon with southpaw Robbie Ray on the hill for Arizona. In his stead, Buster Posey will move from behind the plate to instead cover first base.

Updating a previous report, McCutchen is out of the lineup due to a heel injury, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

Although the injury isn't expected to be serious, it's logical to consider the fact that some discomfort may have played a role in McCutchen's recent struggles. He'll get the day off Sunday to rest the ailment, and should be considered day-to-day heading into Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals. In his stead Sunday, manager Clint Hurdle will start an outfield composed of Adam Frazier (left), Starling Marte (center) and Matt Joyce (right), while Gregory Polanco serves as the DH.

McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics.

Even with the DH option possible while playing in an AL ballpark, McCutchen will get the day off while Starling Marte gets the nod in center field. The veteran received just two days off in the month of June, and with back-to-back day games on tap, the timing was right for a maintenance day Sunday. McCutchen batted just .202 in the month of June, but has so far hit safely in two July games.