MLB Player News

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. 

The Dodgers have activated third baseman Justin Turner off the disabled list and demoted second baseman Jose Peraza to Triple-A Oklahoma City, per truebluela.com.

Turner, who has been sidelined with a staph infection in the right thigh, returns in a breakthrough season. He owns a fine slash line of .323/.387/.563 with 44 RBI in 254 at-bats.

Don Mattingly has stated that Turner should start Friday against Cincinnati. He could play some at second base with Howie Kendrick on the DL.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner will require at least one more day to recover from a skin condition that landed him on the disabled list. He is out of the lineup again Thursday against Cincinnati.

Turner hasn't played since July 26.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who has been out with a skin infection on his thigh since July 27, could be activated by the team as early as Thursday, per the Orange County Register. According to the Los Angeles Times, Turner said he had MRSA, a serious strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to antibiotics.

Turner's return to the lineup has been a little slower than normal to allow him to fully get back into baseball shape, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday was a day of "conditioning drills" for Turner, and that the team could activate him either Thursday or Friday. 

Turner has compiled a slash line of .323/.387/.563 for Los Angeles this season. 

After sitting out Tuesday's contest due to a sore left knee, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was back in the lineup for Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports The Washington Post.

Harper will hit third and play right field. He is hitting .343 with two home runs and five RBI in his last 19 games.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt hit a pair of solo home runs in Tuesday's win over Houston. 

Belt went deep twice in a game for the second time in the month of August. He also had two homers on the first of the month. 

In 10 games this month, Belt has seven home runs and nine RBI. Only three of his 10 August hits have been non-homers, all singles. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler went 1 for 3, with a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over Milwaukee. 

Soler hit in his 10th straight game. He's hitting .382 over the streak. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to left knee soreness.

He was replaced in right field by Clint Robinson. Over his last 13 games, Harper is hitting .354 with two home runs and five RBI.

While Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (hand) continues to hit in the batting cage, there is no timetable for the All-Star outfielder to face live pitching.

"He's progressing nice," manager Dan Jennings said, per The Miami Herald. "He'll continue to do baseball activities. You know, it's just about when he gets the strength back in that hand and wrist."

Stanton has missed more than six weeks due to a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

"He has been in the cages, starting to feel some strength come back," Jennings said. "So, hopefully, that's a positive side that we can move that clock forward some."

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson wasn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game, after starting 101 games this year. 

Pederson was replaced by Enrique Hernandez, who got his eighth start and fourth in the last 10 games.