MLB Player News

McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk Saturday against the Brewers.

McCutchen finally connected for his first homer of the season in the fifth inning to give the Pirates an insurance run in a winning effort. After a slow start, he's now posted extra-base hits in three of his last four contests while also hitting safely in four straight games.

Ruf is in the lineup Saturday, batting fifth and making his first start in left field.

Ruf had been slowed by a shoulder injury coming into the weekend, but he was able to come on as a pinch-hitter Friday and will be back in the lineup Saturday. He'll have the tough task of facing Washington's ace, Max Scherzer, on Saturday, but he's had moderate success in a limited sample against him, going 2-for-6 with a double and two strikeouts.

Cespedes went 3-for-5 with a double and two-run homer in Friday's 6-5 victory over the Indians.

The veteran slugger has started to come on after a modest start to the season, hitting .421 with two home runs and five RBI over his last five games. That stretch includes three multi-hit games and has improved his line to .286/.359/.486 on the season.

Ozuna was 3-for-5 with a double and run scored in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Braves.

Hitting in the two-hole, the four-year veteran put forth his best performance of the new season. The one blemish was when Ozuna couldn't deliver in a clutch eighth-inning RBI opportunity, as he struck out with two outs and the bases loaded. Friday's effort marked the 25-year-old's second multi-hit game of 2016, as he continues to find his way at the plate in the early going. Despite the three hits Friday, he's slashing a lackluster .229/.250/.371 over the first eight games.

Vogelbach went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer for Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

Like last year, Vogelbach is off to a fast start, as he's slashing .387/.441/.548 with nine RBI in 31 at-bats for Iowa. Also like last year, he's limited to where he can play and blocked in the majors. No one doubts he can hit, but it seems his ultimate destination will be in the American League, where he can regularly be the designated hitter.

Ruf (shoulder) was used as a pinch hitter in Friday's game. He went 0-for-1.

Ruf had been sidelined with a sore left shoulder. He will be in the starting lineup Sunday when the Phillies face lefty Gio Gonzalez.

Harper was 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI as Washington thumped the Phillies on Friday night.

He got off to a relatively slow start, but has caught fire recently, raising his average to .313 with four long ones, and now totaling 11 RBI on the year. Harper is the furthest thing from a secret - when he's hot, the league can only hope to contain him, and that is never easy.

Turner (hand) is back in the lineup Friday against the Giants.

He was out of the lineup Thursday due to swelling in his left hand, the result of being hit by a pitch Wednesday night. However, Turner was able to pinch hit Thursday and is back in the lineup Friday, manning third and batting cleanup against lefty Madison Bumgarner. The 31-year-old Turner is 8-for-36 (.222 average) with two homers and seven strikeouts in his career against Bumgarner.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Trayce Thompson will man center field and bat sixth for a second straight day, with another lefty due up in Madison Bumgarner. Pederson has collected eight hits (including one homer) in 28 at-bats so far this season, but he's also struck multiple times in four games and 12 times in total. It looks like he may be in a strict platoon for the foreseeable future.

Turner (undisclosed) came on to pinch hit Thursday and collected an RBI single in his lone at-bat.

Turner was poised to get the night off Thursday after being hit by two pitches in his previous game, but he was able to push through any lingering soreness to put the Dodgers on the board in the seventh inning. He eventually came around to score to give the Dodgers a one-run lead that they would not relinquish. Given that Turner came back ahead of schedule, he figures to be back at his usual spot at third base for Friday's game against the Giants.