MLB Player News

The Dodgers activated infielder Justin Turner from the 15-day disabled list Friday, after he recovered from a hamstring injury.

Turner has been out since late June, but will be available off the bench beginning Friday against the Cardinals.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt missed the team's last game before the All-Star break due to back stiffness, but the time off helped him get back to full health. Belt is back in the lineup Friday against the Marlins, after four days off to heal. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter has excelled on the road this season, hitting .310/.399/.422 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 187 at-bats.

Carpenter's excellent road numbers are built in part by a .393 BABIP, so it remains to be seen if he can sustain his success. He has had issues at home this season, hitting just .254/.354/.339 with one home run and 16 RBI in 177 at-bats. It's a complete reversal from 2013, when Carpenter dominated at home while posting average numbers on the road. Despite seeing his numbers take a step back this year, Carpenter is participating in his second straight All-Star Game Tuesday.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and Reds third baseman Todd Frazier survived tiebreaking swing-offs in the first round before eventually meeting in the finals of Monday's Home Run Derby, where Cespedes picked up his second straight title with a 9-1 knockout of Frazier.

Cespedes' three first-round homers earned him a swingoff with Athletics teammate Josh Donaldson, and after Donaldson managed just one home run three swings, the outfielder delivered homers in each of his first two swings to advance. He defeated Orioles outfielder Adam Jones 9-3 in the second round after Jones managed four first-round shots, then took down Jose Bautista, who had a competition-best 10 homers in the first round, by a score of 7-4 in the AL Final. Twins home-field competitor Brian Dozier hit just two home runs in the first round, failing to advance.

Frazier played the role of underdog throughout, hitting just two home runs as the first batter in the competition but managing to slide into a swing-off with Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau after Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig failed to hit a single home run before recording seven outs. Frazier went first in the swing-off and managed one home run in three swings but advanced after Morneau went 0 for 3. The Reds third baseman took down Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki 6-2 after Tulowitzki hit four first-round homers. Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton earned a bye after hitting six massive blasts in the first round, but he bowed out to Frazier 1-0 after a long break.

Cespedes joined Ken Griffey as the only players to win back-to-back Home Run Derby titles. He'll likely enter the 2015 competition as the favorite to make it three in a row.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen has been chosen as the leadoff hitter for the NL team in Tuesday's All-Star game.

The batting order following McCutchen will be Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (DH), Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy and Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez.

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright will be on the hill to start the game for the NL All-Stars.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner began a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Turner served as a designated hitter and finished 1 for 2 with two walks in his first game action. Barring any setbacks, Turner could be back from the disabled list after three rehab games.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was a late scratch from the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks due to back stiffness. Belt is batting .167 (5 for 30) with one home run and four RBI in nine games since returning from the disabled list July 4.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, MLB.com reports.

He's expected to serve as a designated hitter in his first game action. Barring any setbacks, Turner could be back from the disabled list after three rehab games.

"I don't think it's a matter of [how many] games, it's just trying to get some at-bats," Turner said. "Everything feels good. I took a bunch of at-bats down there, live ABs vs. a couple of young guys down there. But it's a little bit different when you have a cage around you and taking actual ABs. So we'll see how that goes."

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen came up big at the plate with his ninth career multi-home run game Saturday night against the Reds in Cincinnati.

McCutchen launched a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning and belted a go-ahead solo home run in the 11th inning, which proved to be the difference. He finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBI in a 6-5 victory. He owns a .325/.422/.573 with a 17 homers and 61 RBI in 351 at-bats this season.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 5 for 5 with one double, one RBI and one stolen base in his team's 9-3 loss to the Twins Saturday.

Blackmon has managed to tally at least two hits in each of his last four games, and Saturday's five-hit effort was his best performance since going 6-for-6 with three doubles and a home run in a game during the first week of the season. He has hit .306/.352/.483 with 14 home runs, 51 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 346 at-bats.