MLB Player News

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter has arrived at the ballpark for 30 straight games and has seen his name on the lineup card every time.

But not Tuesday in Miami.

Carpenter is getting a rare break with Mark Reynolds set to play the spot instead. Manager Mike Matheny said he was looking to rest Carpenter, and the decision was made easier when Carpenter arrived to the ballpark dealing with mid-back tightness, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The former has been struggling a bit in June. He is batting .200 (9-for-45) over the last 15 games.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson hit his 19th home run of the season in Monday night's 4-2 loss to the Cubs. 

Pederson went 1 for 3 in the game, drew a walk and struck out once. Pederson is hitting .290 over his last 10 games while posting hits in eight of those outings as well. 

Pederson now has a slash line of .252/.393/.551. 

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler (ankle) is about a week away from beginning a rehab assignment, manager Joe Maddon told reporters Monday, per ESPN. Soler has been sidelined since early June.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner continued his torrid pace at the plate in Sunday's 10-2 win over the Giants. Turner went 2 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored. 

In the fifth inning, Turner launched his ninth home run of the season, his third in as many games. Turner belted a two-run shot to put the Dodgers up 10-1.

Turner has been on fire at the plate, as he has hit safely in each of his last 11 starts (13 games), batting a robust .436 with four home runs and 12 RBI over that span.

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon recorded a season-high four RBI in Sunday's win over the Brewers.

Blackmon went 2 for 4 with four RBI and a walk in the game.

Over his last three games, Blackmon is hitting .500 with six hits and eight RBI.

Giants left fielder Nori Aoki is not in the lineup for Sunday night's game. 

Aoki was hit in the leg by a pitch in Saturday' game and had to leave the contest.

Brandon Belt moved from first base to left field to replace Aoki. Buster Posey moved from catcher to first to cover for Belt's absence.  

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run to help key a nine-run first inning in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh. 

Harper went 1 for 4 and extended his hitting streak to five games. He's 8 for his last 18. 

Harper hit his second home run in as many days and third in the last five games. He has 24 home runs and 57 RBI.  

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner went deep for the second straight game on Saturday, belting a solo home run in the first inning of the eventual 6-2 loss to the Giants. After belting two home runs on Friday, Turner collected his eighth of the season on Saturday, his only hit of the game.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson wasted little time in giving his team a run in Saturday's loss to the Giants. Pederson blasted a solo home run with one out in the first inning. It would be Pederson's only hit of the game, though he did walk twice.

The young center fielder now has 18 home runs on the year, though Saturday's was his first since hitting four in a row at the beginning of June. He's batting .292 over his last eight games for the Dodgers.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt connected for a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Dodgers. Belt mashed his ninth home run of the season in the sixth inning with his team already up 4-2. 

Belt is trying to pick things up at the plate in what has been a dreadful month of June. Over his last 10 games, Belt is hitting just .121 (4 for 33) with 11 strikeouts and three walks.