MLB Player News

Winker hit his first Triple-A homer and knocked in four runs Tuesday against Norfolk.

Winker has started the season by displaying his typical excellent plate discipline without hitting for much power, putting together a .316/.403/.404 line through the first 15 games. We'll most likely see him in the majors this summer, after Super Two considerations have passed.

Belt went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, five RBI and two runs in a victory over the Padres on Wednesday.

It was Belt's first three-hit game since Opening Day and his first five-RBI night of the season. Belt has reached base five straight games, mostly due to his newfound patience. He has 14 walks and just 13 strikeouts in 72 at-bats. Belt is now also slashing .303/.402/.513.

Blackmon (toe) began his rehab assignment with High-A Modesto on Tuesday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

Blackmon stayed on schedule with his rehab process with Tuesday's appearance and is expected to play in one more game with Modesto. He'll become eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, although his status for the weekend series will become more clear once he completes the second game of his rehab assignment.

Cespedes (leg) is expected to rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Giants, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reports.

Despite coming in to launch a pinch hit home run in Tuesday's win over Cincinnati, manager Terry Collins will give Cespedes as much down time as he can before putting him back in the lineup. Thus, Cespedes will sit out Wednesday and get an additional off-day Thursday before drawing back into the order for Friday's series opener.

Cespedes (leg) is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Reds, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports.

Some thought that Cespedes would make a return to the starting lineup Wednesday, especially after blasting a pinch-hit three-run home run in Tuesday's game, but he'll take another day off to rest his leg. The outfielder does expect to return to the lineup Friday, though. Juan Lagares will play center field in his place once again.

Soler is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Brewers.

Soler has gotten two hits since April 17, so a day off could give him enough time to rest and get back on track. Kris Bryant will shift into left field to replace him, with Tommy La Stella filling in at third base for Bryant.

Stanton hit his sixth home run, a three-run shot in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers.

Stanton now has three home runs in three days, and this one may have been the sweetest, a three-run blast off Clayton Kershaw that proved to be a game-winner. Stanton's latest stretch shows that a slow start for power hitters is often nothing to worry about -- in the past three days he has increased his slugging percentage from .368 all the way to .536.

McCutchen slammed three home runs as part of a 3-for-5 game with five RBI in Tuesday's win over the Rockies.

Whether it was Monday's day off or a chance to hit at Coors Field, something woke up McCutchen's bat in a big way. McCutchen entered Tuesday with a brutal .213/.337/.347 line and exited hitting .238/.351/.475. With a player as talented as McCutchen, we knew it was just a matter of time until he figured it out. McCutchen has posted at least a .290 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .480 slugging percentage in each of the past four seasons.

Harper went 1-for-2 with three walks and an RBI against the Phillies on Tuesday.

Harper saw 27 pitches, and was still able to do damage with an RBI single in the fifth inning despite being pitched around for most of the night. Expect the league's most dangerous hitter to get similar treatment often moving forward, as the difference between his league-leading .844 slugging percentage and second-place Jeremy Hazelbaker's .714 mark is the same as that between Hazelbaker and 19th place.

Cespedes (leg), in his first at-bat in four games, hit a laser to left for a pinch-hit, three-run home run to tie the game for the Mets on Tuesday.

Cespedes is to return to the starting lineup Wednesday and got a jumpstart by getting an at-bat Tuesday, The ball's apex was just 47 feet, which is the second lowest in baseball this year for a home run. After a slow start, Cespedes is up to six home runs and 17 runs batted in.