MLB Player News

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler went 1 for 3 in Sunday's win over San Francisco. 

The single extended Soler's hitting streak to nine games. He's hitting .387 over the streak. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a walk in Saturday's win over San Francisco. 

Soler extended his hitting streak to eight straight games. He's hitting .393 over the streak. 

A matchup against tough Pirates left-hander has Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson out of the lineup Saturday.

Pederson has been slumping with just two hits in his last 27 at-bats to lower his average on the year to .222. He has homered only once since June 29.

Don Mattingly has yet to pinpoint a return date for Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a skin infection on his right thigh.

Turner could be back as early as Tuesday, but he has just begun to hit off a tee and Mattingly has indicated it could be Wednesday or Thursday.

"We didn't think it would be that long," Mattingly told MLB.com. "Now he's got to get back in shape to be ready."

Turner has been a pleasant surprise this season and was particularly hot before going down with 17 hits, including two home runs, in his last 37 at-bats.

Nationals slugger Bryce Harper came to the plate five times Thursday. He reached base five times.

That usually means at least one homer or double along the way. But Harper played small ball instead with two singles and three walks. He scored twice and raised his on-base percentage to a league-best .461.

Don Mattingly has declared that Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner should be acivated off the disabled list when eligible on Aug. 12, per the Orange County Register.

Turner, who has been sidelined since July 27 with a skin infection, has yet to be cleared for baseball activities.

He has been one of the surprises of the National League this season in earning the starting position and compiling a slash line of .323/.387/.563.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 4 for 6 at the plate with one RBI during Monday's 8-7 loss to the Mariners. He also scored one run.

Prior to his four-hit game Monday, Blackmon was hitting .313 with four doubles and three RBI in his last 13 games.

Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes went 3 for 5 with a season-high three doubles in Monday's win over Miami. 

Cespedes drove in four runs, the most RBI he's had in a game since driving in six on April 19. 

Cespedes was 1 for 7 as a Met prior to Monday's outburst. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will not be able to return during the initial 4-6 week timetable, reports the Miami Herald.

Stanton is still experiencing discomfort when he swings a bat. He has been out since June 27 with a broken bone in his hand.

Giants 1B Brandon Belt had a big night at the plate in the 9-7 win over the Rangers. The Texas-native went 2 for 4 with a pair of solo home runs in the extra-innings victory.

Belt bookended the Giants' scoring on Saturday. He got the Giants on the board with a solo home run in the third inning, cutting the Rangers' lead to one. Then, after the Giants took a 9-8 lead in the 11th, he delivered his second solo dinger of the night, giving him 12 homers on the year.

Both of Belt's home runs on Saturday came off of left-handers--he had not homered off of a southpaw this season prior to Saturday. 

After Saturday's performance, Belt is batting .306 with three home runs and nine home runs over his past 10 games.