MLB Player News

McCutchen went 1-for-4 and stole his third base of the season Friday in Washington.

The center fielder's stolen base was just his third in eight attempts and his head-first slide shows he might be getting a bit more aggressive on the bases. McCutchen holds a modest four-game hitting streak (7-for-16) with three extra-base hits as he tries to rebound from a miserable first half.

Cespedes (quadriceps) is out of Friday's lineup against the Phillies.

He took batting practice Friday in Philadelphia, but is still not ready to return to action after suffering a right quadriceps strain a week ago. Juan Lagares will start in center field and hit eighth Friday.

Winker (wrist) went 0-for-4 in his first game back with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

After four games with the team's rookie-level affiliate, Winker was thrust back up atop the minor league ladder. Winker, who missed a month due to a wrist injury, has managed just two home runs in 56 games with Louisville this season and hasn't even attempted a stolen base, but he has more walks (33) than strikeouts (32) and that plate discipline could earn him a September promotion.

Soler (hamstring) is unsure when he will be ready to return to action, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago.

Soler said he was feeling "good" when asked Friday, but he did not provide a hint as to when he will be ready to rejoin the Cubs. The team figures to continue using several players in left field while Soler remains sidelined.

Pederson (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City and could return to the Dodgers by Tuesday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Pederson was not cleared to swing a bat as of one week ago, but he has progressed over the last few days and is ready to set out on a rehab assignment. According to Gurnick, it could be a quick tuneup of a rehab assignment with Tuesday being the targeted return date. Once Pederson returns, he'll add a powerful left-handed bat to a lineup that was middling through the first half of the season.

Jimenez was 2-3 with a home run and four RBI during the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday.

Sunday marked a great ending to a fantastic first half for Jimenez, who slashed .332/.372/.527 with Single-A South Bend. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Cubs challenge the 19-year-old by sending him to High-A or even Double-A before the season's end. Jimenez has grown as a player in nearly every category in each of his first three seasons in the minors, and it looks like he's only scratching the surface of his potential as an impact player at the big league level.

McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's loss to the Cubs.

The homer was his second in as many games and 14th of the season, and McCutchen closed out the first half with an impressive .314/.375/.543 line through nine July games. If he can stay healthy after the All-Star break then he still has time to put up some big numbers and justify his preseason ADP.

Stanton went 1-for-4 with a walk and a two-run shot, his 20th home run of the season, in Sunday's win over the Reds.

His bat has suddenly come alive heading into the All-Star break and Stanton now has a seven-game hitting streak going that includes five homers and 10 RBI. Don't be surprised if he steals the show during the Home Run Derby.

Blackmon went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Phillies.

The Rockies' dynamic leadoff man heads into the All-Star break with a six-game hitting streak, and also having hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Blackmon has yet to homer in the new month, but is contributing in virtually every other category. He's currently hitting .341 in July following Sunday's production, with two doubles, three runs and four stolen bases.

Cespedes (quadriceps) is unsure if he'll be ready to play Friday's game following the All-Star break, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Even though his quad is feeling better, Cespedes's status for Friday's game is still uncertain. If the slugger misses more time, he'll be replaced in the outfield by Alejandro De Aza.