MLB Player News

Blackmon went 4-for-5 with two doubles and scored a run in Friday's victory over the Mets.

The center fielder raised his average to .303 with his first four-hit performance of the season. Despite a short stint on the DL earlier in the year, Blackmon is still on pace to challenge last season's career highs in doubles (31) and runs scored (93).

Carpenter (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Sunday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The three-time All-Star was recently cleared to resume baseball activities after being shut down for several weeks, and has successfully ramped up close to a rehab assignment. It's uncertain how long Carpenter will need in the minors to prepare for a return to the major league roster, but it seems he has a decent chance to make it back for the start of the team's homestand next week. He will immediately resume his role as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter upon activation.

Cespedes (quad) is back in the lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Word of a quadriceps flareup Wednesday provided a bit of a scare, as the quad issue is something that's been lingering since before the All-Star break, but it seems it was simply a minor setback. Cespedes has been cleared to return following Thursday's off day, and will look to reach the seats for just the second time since the intermission.

Cespedes' balky right quadriceps muscle flared up Wednesday night, which is why he is out of Thursday's lineup, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.

It was already assumed that he was getting a maintenance day for the quad that has ailed him for a while, but it now sounds like Cespedes could miss more than just Thursday's game with the issue. Alejandro De Aza is getting the start in left field with Juan Lagares in center field Thursday against lefty Tyler Anderson.

Cespedes is out of the lineup Thursday against the Rockies, ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.

He will make way for Alejandro De Aza in left field Thursday, as the Mets continue to sit him once every four games in a presumed maintenance effort to ease the stress on his quad. Cespedes is hitting just .250 with one home run in 32 at-bats in the second half.

Cespedes went 2-for-4 with his 22nd home run of the season Wednesday in a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.

Cespedes continues his terrific season, hitting a monster shot into left-centerfield off Adam Wainwright to give the Mets the lead in the seventh inning. Mets closer Jeurys Familia would later go on to blow his first save of the season, spoiling Cespedes the game-winning RBI. The rest of the Mets offense has been somewhat disappointing this season, as the blast gave Cespedes just 58 RBI on his .294/.366/.557 triple-slash line while batting third in the Mets batting order. Cespedes owners will be anxious to see if the Mets add a hitter to help out Cespedes with the trade deadline just a few days away.

McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, and four RBI in the Pirates' blowout win over the Mariners.

McCutchen lead the offense while starter Gerrit Cole threw a dominating three-hit complete game. McCutchen entered the game mired in a 4-for-26 slump, which he broke out of with authority. Despite hitting just .241/.314/.405 entering Wednesday's contest, the Pirates have kept faith in their star centerfielder, continuing to bat him third in the order. Fantasy owners should keep faith as well, and hope Wednesday's performance is a sign of better days ahead for McCutchen.

Stanton went 2-for-5 with a home run in Wednesday's 11-1 victory over the Phillies.

The surging outfielder's two-run homer traveled 430 feet in the first inning, giving Stanton 22 bombs and 59 RBI on the season. After a horrendous start to his 2016 campaign, Stanton has righted the ship and is back on pace to hit 35-plus longballs and challenge 100 RBI. Stanton was hitting a pathetic .193 as of June 15, but has since raised his average more than 50 points while ripping off nine home runs and 28 RBI during the resurgence.

Blackmon is not in the starting lineup for the Rockies on Wednesday.

Blackmon has struggled at the plate over his last 10 games, hitting only .244 with one RBI and 14 strikeouts in 41 at-bats. Blackmon should be back in the lineup on Thursday as the Rockies host Jacob deGrom and the Mets. The outfielder has no hits in eight career at-bats against deGrom.

Belt went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-7 win over Cincinnati.

Belt has responded well to being moved down to sixth in the order, homering Monday and reaching base four times Tuesday. He appears to be breaking out of the eight-game slump in which he went 2-for-33. He will likely stick in the six-hole so long as the Giants continue to put up runs like they have over their last two contests.