MLB Player News

Dickerson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's loss to the Blue Jays.

The outfielder has started on consecutive days, collecting six hits, two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored in the process. Dickerson had been struggling at the dish after the All-Star break, but this could be the start of a turnaround for the lefty. He's now hitting .280 with four home runs over 75 MLB at-bats this season.

Belt was dropped to the sixth spot in the lineup Monday against the Reds.

He's hitting just .185/.312/.277 in 65 at-bats in July, a cold stretch that prompted manager Bruce Bochy to bat Belt sixth for the eighth time this season. The first baseman has typically hit third or fifth, and he should return to a more advantageous spot at some point, provided he snaps out of this funk. Jarrett Parker is starting in right field and hitting third Monday.

Manager Mike Matheny suggested Sunday that Carpenter (oblique) could head out on a rehab assignment within the next few days, Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Carpenter has missed approximately three weeks because of the issue at this point, so he may require more than a couple games before returning to the big league squad. An early August return seems plausible if he indeed begins his rehab assignment in the near future, but a return date should firm up as it draws closer.

Dickerson went 3-for-5 with a double, a solo homer and two runs Sunday at the Nationals.

Dickerson's third homer of the campaign brought the team within one run in the eighth inning of a Padres' victory. He now has only two RBI since July 7 and boasts a .254/.303/.451 slash line on the year.

McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.

McCutchen will get the day off after making 15 straight starts in center field and going 1-for-7 at the plate during the first two games of the series. A cold start for McCutchen has led into a July in which his OPS (.725) is the same Sunday as it was back on the first of the month. While the outfielder gets a maintenance day, Starling Marte will cover for him in center field, while Matt Joyce draws the start in right.

Harper (rest) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Padres, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

It appears manager Dusty Baker is simply giving Harper a regular day off, as his last one was all the way back on June 30. Harper was 0-for-7 at the plate during the first two games of this series, so that, mixed with the fact that the Nationals are facing lefty Christian Friedrich on Sunday, all added up to be perfect timing for a maintenance day. In his stead, Chris Heisey will get the call in right field.

Stanton went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBI in a victory over the Mets on Saturday.

The big right-hander had just one hit in his previous 13 at-bats, so it was nice to see him break out again. This was his first home run since winning the Home Run Derby. Stanton is hitting .241 with 21 homers, 55 RBI and 44 runs in 311 at-bats.

Carpenter (oblique) has been cleared for limited baseball activities, Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Carpenter was taking grounders and throwing to first on Friday before the Cardinals game against the Dodgers. It's unclear when Carpenter will be cleared to start a rehab assignment, but this is a step in the right direction. Jedd Gyorko and Greg Garcia have been filling in at third base during Carpenter's absence.

Soler (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday for Double-A Tennessee, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Soler, who has a history of hamstring injuries, has been sidelined by the Cubs since June 7. The Cubs will play it safe with the 24-year-old to make sure his hamstring is 100 percent before activating him to the roster. With teammate Chris Coghlan also on a rehab assignment, the Cubs outfield could become crowded very quickly.

McCutchen reached base three times Thursday, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Typically this doesn't represent much news for a career .293 hitter, but Cutch has put up 0-for-5 and 0-for-8 efforts in two of his last three games. The free pass was just McCutchen's second in 10 games and his 8.7 percent walk rate is well below his career average of 11.8 percent. He compiled a 14.3 percent rate just one season ago.