MLB Player News

Harper is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets, according to CSN's Chase Hughes.

Harper went 0-for-9 over his last three games and is hitting just .197 this month, so manager Dusty Baker decided to give him a day to clear his head, and hold Harper out for the third time this season. Chris Heisey will get the start in right field in Harper's place.

Soler is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Soler homered, reached base four times, and knocked in three runs in Tuesday's game, but manager Joe Maddon still decided to give him a day off Wednesday on the heels of six straight starts. Kris Bryant will take Soler's place in left field, and Tommy La Stella will replace Bryant at the hot corner.

Blackmon smacked a solo homer, his third of the season, in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Red Sox.

It's just Blackmon's 12th career homer against a left-hander, as he took David Price deep in the third inning. The outfielder's season has been disrupted by a brief stint on the DL due to turf toe, but he's been productive when healthy enough to suit up. He's hitting .300 with three homers and 17 RBI to go with three stolen bases across 120 at-bats.

McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.

McCutchen has had a disappointing campaign by his lofty standards, but he's still very much a fantasy asset. While he hasn't been a threat on the base paths this season, the 2013 NL MVP should still score plenty of runs as an integral part of a top-five Pirates offense.

Soler hit his fourth home run, scored twice, knocked in three runs and walked twice in a 2-for-3 game in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals.

Soler has hit half of his four home runs on the season in the past five game, perhaps a sign that he's ready to break out of his season long slump. He's still hitting just .206/.304/.355, but seeing as he's been under the Mendoza line for much of the season, things are at least heading in the right direction.

Ozuna went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and a walk Tuesday against the Rays.

Ozuna scored after hitting each of his doubles, but the Marlins came up short against the Rays. He's now hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games to raise his slash line to .327/.372/.589.

Stanton went 1-for-4 with a solo homer Tuesday against the Rays.

Stanton's 12th bomb of the year got the Marlins on the board in the sixth inning of a losing effort. It was only his second homer in his last 17 games, and he's now slashing .214/.326/.481.

Cespedes went 2-for-4 with a home run, his MLB-leading 15th of the season, and scored twice in Monday's 7-1 victory over the Nationals.

The home run propelled him past sluggers Nolan Arenado and Todd Frazier for the league's top spot. His 36 RBI are best in the NL while his 1.092 OPS is second-best in the majors (behind only David Ortiz). Cespedes has put his name among the most elite players in the league, and there's no reason to believe he will slow down as the season goes on.

Ozuna hit his ninth home run as part of a 3-for-4 game with two runs scored in Monday's win over the Rays.

Ozuna extended his hitting streak to five games and now has six extra-base hits (including two homers) in that stretch. The lack of power from Ozuna in 2015 -- just 10 home runs and a .383 slugging percentage in 123 games -- was a big reason why he fell out of favor by the end of the season. But Ozuna is still only 25 years old, is still growing into his power, and has to develop it in one of the toughest hitter's parks in the league. It shouldn't be terribly surprising that he went through some growing pains, and now he's living up to the potential he showed when he mashed 23 home runs in 2014.

Turner is in the lineup for Monday's tilt with the Reds.

Turner will man the hot corner and bat second in the order. He was not in the lineup Sunday after starting the previous five games. Turner did make a pinch-hit appearance, and made the best of it by mashing a solo home run. He will look to stay hot Monday.