MLB Player News

Manager Pete Mackanin said Ruf (shoulder) will start the next time the Phillies face a left handed pitcher, Evan Webeck of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies are scheduled to next face a lefty on Sunday when they take on Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals. Ruf was able to swing a bat prior to Thursday's game and was available to pinch-hit.

Harper only got one hit in four at-bats Thursday against Atlanta, but he made it count with a third-inning grand slam.

He's certainly off to a good start in his MVP defense. Harper may be sitting on only a .250 batting average, but that's just the vagaries of small sample sizes; he'll lift that up, especially considering he's also sitting on a spectacular 7:3 BB:K in the early going.

Manager Dave Roberts said that he expects Turner (undisclosed) to return to the lineup Friday, Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register reports.

Turner was given the night off Thursday after being hit by two pitches in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. He was sent in for X-rays on his hand, but they came back negative, leaving open the possibility of him drawing back into the order for Friday's series opener with the Giants. Howie Kendrick is taking over at third base Thursday, but Enrique Hernandez would be another candidate to fill in if Turner is unable to go Friday.

Turner is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Howie Kendrick will take Turner's spot at third base Thursday after Turner was hit by a pitch twice in Wednesday's contest. Most concerning was a pitch Turner took off the hand, but Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register reports that X-rays on his hand came back negative. Turner could be back in action as soon as Friday, but if he's still out of the lineup at that point, Kendrick or Enrique Hernandez could serve as replacements at third base.

Soler is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Manager Joe Maddon has made it clear that Soler will receive most of the starts in left field following the season-ending injury to Kyle Schwarber, so this move is likely just to give him some rest and get left-handed hitting Tommy La Stella in the lineup against Raisel Iglasias, a right-handed starter. Soler has stepped up in Schwarber's absence, hitting .250/300/.438 with one home run and three RBI since the injury.

Blackmon (toe) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

Blackmon is suffering from turf toe and will need at least a couple weeks to recover. Catcher Dustin Garneau was recalled in a corresponding move. It is expected that Gerardo Parra will start in center field while Ben Paulsen plays left field in Blackmon's absence.

Belt smacked his second homer of the season in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies.

Belt has started 2016 off on the right foot, slashing .313/.421/.594 through nine games. He has shown flashes in the past, but hasn't been able to deliver due to inconsistency or injury. This may be the year he finally puts it all together, as he is in the prime of his career and surrounded by one of the best lineups he has ever been a part of.

Blackmon hurt his toe in Wednesday's game, which is why he is out of Thursday's lineup against the Giants, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

He injured the toe diving back to second base and then exited late in Wednesday's game. Considering Blackmon has a history of turf toe, this is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Gerardo Parra, who is starting in center field Thursday, would likely take over in center going forward if Blackmon misses more time, and Brandon Barnes, Ben Paulsen and Ryan Raburn would be tasked with handling left field. Consider Blackmon day-to-day for now.

Blackmon is out of Thursday's lineup against the Giants.

He left Wednesday's game early, but is listed as a bench option for Thursday's game, so it looks like he's just getting the day off. Gerardo Parra will start in center field with Ben Paulsen moving to left field against righty Matt Cain.

Ruf (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Padres, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

Ruf, if healthy, would have started at first base Thursday with the Padres starting southpaw Drew Pomeranz, but Ryan Howard will get the nod with Ruf still banged up. While Ruf's shoulder is still too sore for him to play a full nine innings, he may be able to pinch hit if needed.