MLB Player News

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says that right fielder Jorge Soler will go out on a minor league rehab assignment early next week, possibly as early as Monday, barring any setbacks beforehand, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Soler has been out since June 3 with a sprained ankle, and could be back with the team before too long.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen left Saturday's game after being hit in the arm by a 91 mph pitch. 

McCutchen was hit in the left elbow in the bottom of the first inning. He left the game immediately for a pinch runner. 

The star center-fielder underwent X-rays, which came back negative for a fracture, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper is not in the starting lineup on Saturday, the third straight game he's missed. 

Harper is dealing with a leg problem originally believed to be a cramp. He also missed Thursday and Friday's games. 

Clint Robinson replaces Harper in right for the sixth time this season, batting cleanup. 

Marlins right fielder and MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton has a broken bone in his hand, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman confirms.

Stanton, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, experienced pain in his left hand while swinging the bat during Friday's loss to the Dodgers. The pain got progressively worse throughout the game.

Stanton is hitting .265 with a league-high 27 home runs and 67 RBI in 279 at-bats this season.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton will be sent for X-rays on his left hand on Saturday. Stanton experienced pain while swinging the bat in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers. He struck out three times, and the pain got worse each time.

"On the swing, my bat dug into my hand a little bit," Stanton said, per the Miami Herald. "Didn't feel the greatest. Will just get it checked out and know for sure what's going on. My level of concern will be when I know exactly what's up."

Any absence by Stanton would be a huge blow to the Marlins, as he currently leads the league with 26 home runs. His availability for Saturday's game, and the rest of the series, is certainly in question at this point.

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler tested out his sprained ankle by running the bases on Friday. No immediate issues were reporting, and Soler could be able to start a rehab assignment within the next few days, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

A right leg issue has Nationals slugger Bryce Harper sitting again Friday night in Philadelphia.

Harper, who was also sidelined Thursday, was originally considered to be dealing only with a cramp. 

Manager Matt Williams said Harper's hamstring is feeling better. He also said Harper underwent an MRI, which revealed no major damage, but Harper will take at least one more day of rest before returning to the lineup.

He is enjoying a breakout season with a slash line of .340/.466/.719.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt flashed his speed in Thursday's 13-8 win over the Padres. Belt went 3 for 5 with a pair of triples, an RBI and a run scored. 

Even with the three-hit effort, Belt is still batting just .158 (6 for 38) with 16 strikeouts over his last 10 games. 

After sustaining a minor injury to his right leg Wednesday, the Nationals held outfielder Bryce Harper out of Thursday's lineup against the Braves, reports The Washington Post. The original injury was thought to be a cramp.

Harper was replaced by Clint Robinson in right field. Over his last seven games, Harper is hitting .370 with three home runs and seven RBI.

The Nationals are favored (-155) over the Braves on Thursday.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson was not in the lineup for Thursday's contest at the Chicago Cubs, reports MLB.com.

He was replaced in center field by Enrique Hernandez, who will also bat first. Over his last eight games, Pederson is hitting .208 with two home runs and four RBI.

The Dodgers are the underdogs (+128) at Chicago on Thursday.