MLB Player News

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton had to skip a day of hitting on Thursday because of pain in his wrist while hitting, per the Sun-Sentinel.

Stanton is still hopeful to return to the Marlins' lineup in September.

"It's just wrist weakness. Not the actual surgical part; the impact on my incision area is fine. It's the weakness in my wrist in turning over," Stanton said.

"It's a little different than [with a] muscle; at 75 percent of a muscle you can jog and still do some functional things. But I need 100 percent of my wrist. I can't go up and [face] 95 miles per hour and just have 75 percent of my wrist. I need all of that to turn it over."

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is targeting a September return after missing nearly two months with a left hamate fracture.

"We're getting there," he told Fox Sports. "Slowly, but we're getting there."

Stanton has been working in the batting cage to build up strength in his wrist. He acknowledges that there is still pain. His goal is to hit for at least five consecutive days without pain, but he's not close to that yet.

"When I can do that I'll be back," he said. "I got to two. We'll go from there. Two and then I couldn't get to the third, so start again today."

Stanton led both leagues in homers and RBI before going down. He still ranks fifth in the National League with 27 blasts despite his long absence.

Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi has stated that newly acquired Chase Utley could be used at third base when injured second baseman Howie Kendrick returns in early September, per MLB.com.

That would mean less playing time for current third baseman Justin Turner, who has had a surprisingly strong season. Turner owns a fine .312/.373/.543 slash line on the year, but is hitless in his last 12 at-bats.

A sore throwing shoulder prevented Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from playing in the field during Wednesday's game at Baltimore, reports NJ.com. Cespedes will be the designated hitter for the contest.

For the first time since being sidelined with a hand injury, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was able to face live pitching Monday, reports MLB.com.

"He's in a hitting progression," manager Dan Jennings said. "He'll start to hit off the machine and live batting practice. Then he'll progress into probably a simulation game and one or two rehab games. Time for that is to be determined."

Stanton has been out since late June with a fracture of the hamate bone in his left hand. Jennings said he needs to build up strength in his hand before he can return.

"When he feels the strength is there, he'll step on the accelerator," Jennings added. "When he's healthy, he'll be back. I know he wants to finish on a positive note. I hope that can be sooner rather than later."

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper returned to the lineup for Sunday's game.

Harper was forced to leave Saturday's game after fouling a pitch off his foot, but he returned to the lineup Sunday, batting third. 

Nationals slugger Bryce Harper was removed from the game Saturday in San Francisco after fouling a pitch off his left foot in the seventh inning.

He finished the at-bat by flying out, but Jayson Werth moved to right field in the bottom of the inning.

Harper later reported that x-rays on the foot were negative, per MASN. It remains to be seen if it feels healthy enough for him to play Sunday.

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper had one hit on Friday night, but it was good for a three-run home run in the fifth inning. It wasn't enough however, as the Giants would hang on to defeat the Nats 8-5.

Harper's home run came off Matt Cain, but the Giants already owned a 6-1 lead at the time. The longball was Harper's 30th of the year, as he became the youngest player in Expos/Nationals franchise history to hit 30 homers in a season. 

"I'm playing for 40 [home runs]," Harper said, per MLB.com. "If you are not worried about 30, you are not worried about 40. I want to hit 40 or 50. I want to keep going. I want to keep battling.

"If I'm doing that, hopefully, we are winning ballgames. That's all that matters. Personal stats, of course, are fun. But it's all about winning ballgames and what you can do for your team."

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 2 for 4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Friday's win over Miami. 

Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games. He's hitting .368 over the streak. 

"He's always looking for something, something to add to his bag of tricks," manager Mike Matheny said, per MLB.com. "It's been nice to add home runs into the bag this year, and we've reaped the benefits of that. And then to just look and see what they're going to give you [on defense], it's a smart play."

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson connected on his 22nd home run of the season in Thursday's 10-3 loss to the Reds. His solo shot in the fourth inning cut the Reds' lead down to two, but the Dodgers were unable to overcome the Reds' offensive onslaught. 

The home run was Pederson's first since July 25, and just his second since the All-Star break.