MLB Player News

Outfielder Charlie Blackmon was a spark at the top of the lineup for the Rockies, driving in three runs to power Colorado to a victory over the Brewers on Saturday. 

Blackmon was 2-for-4 on the day, connecting for his ninth homer of the season in the second inning to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead. He added an RBI single in the seventh to help extend the lead to 5-1. 

Blackmon has hits in eight of his last 10 games to raise his average to .271 on the season. 

Every Nationals player not named Max Scherzer took a back seat in terms of heroism Saturday against Pittsburgh, but Bryce Harper was certainly second on the list.

Harper returned to the lineup after missing a game with a hamstring ailment and picked up where he left off. He blasted a solo home run in the fourth to open the scoring, then added an RBI single before scoring in the sixth.

Bryce Harper will return to the Nationals' lineup for Saturday's game. 

Harper injured his hamstring during Thursday's game and missed Friday's contest. Harper returns to right field, battig fourth in the lineup. 

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner connected for his seventh home run of the season in Friday's loss to the Giants. Turner's solo home run came in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the score to 9-4, but it wasn't enough to avoid the defeat.

Turner also doubled twice, drove in two runs and scored two runs, as he lifted his batting average up to .329 on the year. 

In eight games since returning from a minor knee injury, Turner is batting .435 (10 for 23) with two home runs and five RBI.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said outfielder Bryce Harper underwent physical therapy for his injured hamstring on Friday, according to The Washington Post. 

Harper did not take any swings but did see a doctor and take part in some leg exercises. He will be re-evaluated on Saturday. Harper did not play in Friday's 4-1 win over the Pirates.

Harper is considered day-to-day after injuring his left hamstring while making a throw from the outfield on Thursday. The injury was previously described as "mild." 

"A good work day for him," Williams said. 

Herper is hitting .344/.476/.720 this season. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler was able to shed his protective boot, as he took live batting practice on Friday. It's the first time he's done so since landing on the disabled list with an ankle sprain on June 3, MLB.com reports. 

The Cubs have not released an updated timetable for Soler's return to the lineup, and it is not known whether or not he will need a rehab assignment.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner is back in the lineup for Friday night's game against the Giants. 

Turner had the day off on Thursday. He's batting .315 this year with six home runs. 

Matt Williams has announced that Nationals star right fielder Bryce Harper will sit Friday night against Pittsburgh.

Harper sustained a hamstring injury Thursday and is undergoing tests to determine its severity.

"He's not in the lineup today and that's probably a given but we'll see what he can and can't do," Williams told MASNSports.com. "If he continues to have issues with it, then we'll take the next steps appropriate to go get an MRI if need be."

His loss for an extended period would be devastating for the struggling Nationals. He has emerged as perhaps the leading Most Valuable Player candidate in the National League with a slash line of .344/.476/.720.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continued his assault on baseballs everywhere, blasting his 25th home run of the season in a loss Thursday to the Yankees. 

Stanton's shot to left field made new Yankee Stadium the 23rd MLB park in which he has gone deep. Stanton also raised his league-leading RBI total to 63. 

The red-hot Stanton now has 13 homers in his last 23 games, 10 of which have come in June. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was forced to exit Thursday night's game against the Rays with a left hamstring injury, the team announced via Twitter.

He injured his hamstring while attempting to throw a ball into the infield from right field. Harper, who collapsed immediately after the throw, was on the ground in pain but was eventually able to walk off under his own power next to trainer Lee Kuntz, albeit slow and with a slight limp. 

"I was in pretty good pain," Harper said after the game. "And a little scared at the same time."

Harper has had an MVP-like season up to this point. Losing Harper for an extended period of time would put a serious damper on the Nationals' season, which has stalled recently. Entering Thursday's game, the Nationals have lost 13 of their last 20 games. 

Harper left the game 1 for 3 with a single.