MLB Player News

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.

Soler recorded just one hit over his last four games, so manager Joe Maddon decided to give him a day off Tuesday. Chris Coghlan will get the start in right field in Soler's place.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen has four hits in his last 25 at-bats and has walked 16 times in his last nine games. 

Opponents are pitching more carefully than ever to McCutchen, who has only two RBI in his last 13 games. He did steal his fourth base in 14 contests Monday after totaling seven steals during the first five-plus months of 2015.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 1 for 4 with a run scored in Monday's 3-0 win over the Pirates.

Carpenter's run would be the difference maker, as the third baseman scored on a routine single mishandled in the outfield by Gregory Polanco in the ninth inning. The 29-year-old has been the catalyst of St. Louis' offense this season, leading the team in home runs and runs batted in. With four multi-hit performances in his last seven games, Carpenter is primed to lead the Cardinals into the postseason.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter smashed his 27th home run of the season, finishing 2 for 5 in the loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.

So much for Carpenter not offering much power. One of the negatives owners faced with Carpenter from a Fantasy perspective is that he wasn't expected to have much power compared to a typical third baseman.

It appears he's successfully swapped some of his average for a very nice boost in power. Carpenter is currently fifth among all third baseman in home runs this year.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is out of the lineup Monday against the Reds, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.

Harper collected no hits again Sunday, marking the fifth time in the past six games where that has occurred. When adding an escalation in the dugout with teammate Jonathan Papelbon, Harper will receive a day off to cool down and get his head right Monday. Matt den Dekker will replace him in right field, batting seventh for the Nationals.

Nationals pitcher Jonathan Papelbon was involved in a dugout altercation with teammate Bryce Harper during Sunday's loss to the Phillies, The Washington Post reports. 

The incident overshadowed the result of what was ultimately a meaningless game after the Nationals were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.

Papelbon appeared to be displeased with Harper slowly jogging out an infield ground ball in the eighth inning, and he confronted Harper in the dugout following the at-bat. Shouting quickly escalated into a physical altercation, as Papelbon grabbed Harper's neck before the pair were rushed by teammates and separated. W

hile Harper was removed from the game and replaced in the field for the final inning, Papelbon was on the mound in the ninth inning. He gave up a two-run home run to Andres Blanco and was charged with five of Philadelphia's eight runs in the final frame.

Papelbon is currently appealing a three-game ban for hitting Baltimore's Manny Machado earlier in the week, and it remains to be seen whether he'll be disciplined internally following Sunday's dustup.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (hip) is back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Carpenter was forced to leave Saturday's game early, but it appears that move was more precautionary than a reaction to a tangible injury. He'll take his usual spot at third base and batting leadoff.

Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.

After clinching the NL East Saturday, the Mets are rolling out backups at every position but left field and pitcher, and Cespedes is one of the players hitting the bench. Juan Lagares will get the start at center field, batting leadoff.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 2 for 5 with a triple and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Dodgers.

Blackmon recently missed two games due to a neck issue, but he's been able to suit up the past two nights without incident, going 3 for 9 at the dish in the process. Saturday's two-hit effort gave Blackmon his 47th multihit game of the season.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper supplied almost all of the Nationals offense Saturday in a 12-inning, 2-1 win over the Phillies, going 3-for-5 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and an RBI--which came on a walk-off single to secure the victory.

He's now three doubles shy of a 40 2B/40 HR season and four RBI shy of a century, so Harper will have a couple of milestones to chase over the season's final week even though the Nats were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.