MLB Player News

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen crushed his 10th home run of the season in Friday night's 5-2 loss to the Indians. 

McCutchen's homer was a solo shot as he finished the game 1 for 2. McCutchen also drew two walks during the game. McCutchen has now recorded a hit in five consecutive games. For the season, McCutchen is slashing .296/.390/.493. 

Giants first baseman/outfielder Brandon Belt was held out of the starting lineup Friday against the Nationals for the second time in six games. It was just the sixth time since May 1 he did not start.

Belt's absence likely had to do with Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez pitching. Belt is 1 for 6 against Gonzalez in his career and is batting just .133 against lefties in 2015.

Belt is batting just .206 since June 1. His batting average has declined from .306 to .268 in that span.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs during an 8-4 win Thursday against the Tigers via a sac fly in the fifth inning and an RBI double in the ninth inning. It was his 15th multi-RBI game this season.

McCutchen has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games. He is batting .364 (12 for 33) with one home run, five doubles, five RBI, six runs, nine walks, seven strikeouts and two stolen bases.

The former NL MVP has been locked in at the plate for several weeks. Since May 20, he has a .364/.449/.593/1.042 slash line in his last 38 games.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 2 for 4 with two walks and a RBI in Thursday's loss to the Padres.

Carpenter entered the game with just two hits over his last 12 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 2 for 4 with one RBI during Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins. He also struck out twice.

Prior to his two-hit game Thursday, Belt was hitting .170 with one home run and six RBI in his last 14 games.

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler could return to the lineup this weekend, manager Joe Maddon told reporters Thursday. 

Soler, who is on the 15-day disabled list due to an ankle sprain, is 0 for 7 with three strikeouts through his first two rehab games with Triple-A Iowa. He will play again Thursday before he is re-evaluated.

"It depends on what he looks like," Maddon said, per ESPN.com. "I haven’t really heard anything pro or con. He’s just getting his feet on the ground again."

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is not in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup against the Diamondbacks.

Perderson will be replaced in the leadoff spot and center field by Enrique Hernandez.

Over his last 12 games, Pederson is hitting just .220 with nine hits, three home runs and five RBI.

The Cardinals have returned third baseman Matt Carpenter and second baseman Kolten Wong to the starting lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the White Sox. Both players were rested on Tuesday against Chris Sale, but they will take their normal positions in Wednesday's lineup.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter is getting the day off and is being held out of the starting lineup Tuesday against the White Sox. Carpenter had started five straight games, collecting just three hits in 21 at-bats over that span.

And, with a .222 batting average against left-handers this season, Carpenter will be shielded from one of the finest southpaws in the game, Chris Sale, who is starting on Tuesday.

Mark Reynolds is handling the hot corner while Xavier Scruggs handles first base on Tuesday.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon provided his team's only run during a 7-1 loss to the Athletics on Monday. Blackmon led off the eighth inning with a home run off of Evan Scribner.

Blackmon, who had his hitting streak end Sunday, has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games. He has three of his 10 home runs in the last 15 games.

He is batting .316 (18 for 57) with a .596 slugging percentage, three home runs, 13 RBI, 10 runs, eight walks, 14 strikeouts and seven stolen bases in his last 15 games.