MLB Player News
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Jesse Winker DH | NYM
Reds' Jesse Winker: Dealing with wrist injury
Winker is day-to-day with a wrist injury, Steve Bittenbender of The Courier-Journal reports.
The Reds' top outfield prospect exited Sunday's game with an apparent wrist injury and he was held out of Monday's contest. He underwent an MRI on Monday, but the Reds have yet to disclose the extent of his injury. That said, manager Delino DeShields did note that Winker was having trouble gripping the bat. He's considered day-to-day at this point, and his timetable for a return should come into focus once the results of the MRI are released.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Provides the difference in win Sunday
Belt's only hit was a two-run homer in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers.
Belt was the deciding factor Sunday, taking left-handed rookie Julio Urias deep in the bottom of the sixth inning. The homer was already his third of June, matching his season-high monthly total only 12 days in. Belt has been one of the more consistent options at first base -- especially in OBP leagues -- and it looks like his power is heating up with the weather.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Not in Sunday's lineup
Carpenter is out of the lineup for the second straight game Sunday against the Pirates.
Carpenter didn't get the starting nod Saturday either, but his absence Sunday is most likely due to the fact that the Pirates are sending another left-handed pitcher to the mound in Jon Niese. The infielder did suffer a jammed finger earlier in the week, so it makes sense to give Carpenter an extra day of rest, especially now that the infield has gotten deeper due to the return of Jhonny Peralta. In the meantime, Jedd Gyorko will get the starting nod at second base for the second day in a row.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Nationals' Bryce Harper: Out of the lineup Sunday
Harper is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.
Harper will take a seat against southpaw Adam Morgan, as manager Dusty Baker will look to rest as many of his left-handed bats as possible, which includes giving lefty Ben Revere the day off as well. Harper has started to slip out of a recent slump since the start of June, going 10-for-32 to raise his batting average 12 points on the month. Look for the lefty slugger to return to action for an important three-game series with the Cubs that begins Monday. In the meantime, Chris Heisey will take over in right field.
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Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT
Marlins' Marcell Ozuna: Solo home run not enough in Saturday loss
Ozuna cranked his 12th home run of the season in Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks.
The eighth inning solo shot was his only hit in five trips to the plate. Ozuna looked to be cooling off for a brief moment there, but is now 10-for-25 in his last five games with one home run and eight RBI over that span. He continues to be Miami's biggest run producer and is slashing .323/.368/.557 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI in 61 games this season.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Launches first homer of June in Saturday victory
Blackmon went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs in Saturday's 5-3 victory over the Padres.
The 29-year-old went deep for the first time in June, after closing out May with three homers over two games. Blackmon has actually seen his average drop 20 points this month, but he's still carrying a higher number in that category (.296) than all but one of his previous five seasons. Where Blackmon's production is lagging this season is on the base paths, as he's managed to swipe only four bags after totaling 71 stolen bases over the prior two campaigns.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Not in Saturday's lineup
Carpenter is not in the lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Pirates.
Carpenter was removed from Thursday's game late due to a jammed finger, but homered in his return to the lineup Friday and there is no indication the finger is behind his absence Saturday. It's likely the case of facing southpaw Francisco Liriano, as Jedd Gyorko will replace Carpenter at second base and bat eighth for the Cardinals. The Pirates send another lefty to the mound Sunday, so it's possible he will receive back-to-back days off.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Posts three-RBI day Friday
Carpenter (finger) went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead three-run homer, two walks and two runs scored in Friday's 9-3 victory over the Pirates.
The leadoff man hit the go-ahead blast in the eighth inning off reliever Neftali Feliz, plating Eric Fryer and Greg Garcia to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead. Carpenter's bat has been on fire since late May, as he's reached safely in nine of his last 10 games. He's also slashing .367/.486/.633 over 30 June at-bats, and already has five doubles and seven RBI this month as well.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: In lineup Friday against Pirates
Carpenter (finger) is in the lineup Friday after leaving Thursday's game with a jammed finger.
Carpenter sustained the injury during the eighth inning of Thursday's game and was forced to leave the contest shortly after. For Friday's outing, he is slotted into the leadoff spot and will play second base. Carpenter is currently on a six-game hit streak while batting .346/.452/.538 with four RBI in the month of June and hasn't missed a start since May 27.