MLB Player News

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. 

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is back in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Pederson didn't start Wednesday's game but entered the game as a pinch-hitter and went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Pederson is hitting .333 with five hits and four walks in his last five games.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's clash with the Rangers. Pederson had started all but one of the last 29 games for the Dodgers, but with lefty Wandy Rodriguez on the mound, manager Don Mattingly opted to give the young outfielder the night off.

With Pederson out of the lineup, Chris Heisey will make the start in center field on Wednesday. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 3 for 3 at the plate to help lead the Nationals to a 16-4 win over the Rays on Tuesday.

Harper drove in his only run of the game when he hit his 22nd home run of the season off Josh Riefenhauser in the fifth inning. He also walked once.

Over his last 14 games, Harper is 20 for 48 with four home runs and nine RBI.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner blasted his sixth home run of the season during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

Turner tied the game with the home run in the ninth inning, but the Dodgers lost in the bottom of the inning. The two-run shot was Turner's only hit in four at-bats during the contest.

Prior to Tuesday's contest, Turner was hitting .450 with four RBI in his last seven games.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton hit his 24th home run of the season in Tuesday night's 12-2 victory over the Yankees. 

Stanton hit the three-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth inning. Stanton finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Over his past 10 games, Stanton is hitting .444 and now has recorded a hit in nine straight games. 

Stanton is hitting .265/.351/.616 this season.