MLB Player News

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford suffered a tough break Tuesday night, as the ankle injury he suffered against the Reds is expected to send him to the disabled list. It comes at a bad time as Crawford was starting to work his way back into being a Fantasy-relevant option.

Though, his injury could provide the Dodgers with the opportunity to promote highly touted prospect Joc Pederson, who has been toiling at Triple-A Albuquerque despite video-game-like numbers. Pederson is batting .347 with a .454 on-base percentage, .642 slugging percentage, 1.096 OPS, 15 home runs and 32 RBI in 50 games. Now, you could make the argument Pederson's numbers are little inflated because of the hitter-friendly PCL. However, he has a career .307/.402/.522/.924 slash line, so he's a legit offensive weapon. 

Perhaps the most encouraging sign that indicates Pederson is ready for the majors is how well he's hitting lefties, which has been a weakness in the past. He is batting .296 with a .549 slugging percentage and .932 OPS in 71 at-bats against lefties this season.

I hope the Dodgers bring Pederson to the majors. Even though he might not play full-time because the Dodgers still have Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, Pederson can still make an impact and help the team win games. Also, Puig was in a similar situation last year and yet managed to play his way into the lineup.

The team might have a lot of money locked up in Crawford, Kemp and Ethier, but Pederson is proving he's too good for the minors and needs his shot at the majors. If Pederson is recalled to replace Crawford, then I wouldn't hesitate adding him in Fantasy.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg hinted Tuesday he could move to a Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf platoon at first base, per the Philadelphia Daily News. 

"If it works. If it produces, then it becomes a possibility going forward," Sandberg said.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton homered and recorded his fourth three-hit on Monday, leading his team to a 3-2 win over the Nationals in Washington.

Stanton took starter Tanner Roark deep for a two-run home run in the third inning. He doubled in the first and singled in the eighth, falling a triple shy of the cycle. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI. He is hitting .316 and leads the National League in home runs (15) and leads the majors in RBI (49).

Nationals manager Matt Williams provided an update Monday on the status of outfielder Bryce Harper, who continues to recover from left thumb surgery.

"Bryce is just healing up," Williams said, per MASNsports.com. "He is able to do some things with the thumb. He is seeing the (occupational therapist), doing that. It is still early yet, though. He is still in the process of mild stretching, strengthening and letting that matte down and heal up before he can get aggressive with it. But he is progressing."

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna went 2 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run to represent his team's entire offense in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Brewers.

Ozuna's bat has been hot as of late, as he has three home runs and three two-hit performances over the last five days. He has hit .261/.307/.443 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 176 at-bats.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 6-0 win over the Phillies Sunday.

Turner's second-inning home run increased his team's lead to 2-0, but one run would prove to be sufficient as starter Josh Beckett no-hit the Phillies Sunday. Turner has hit .239/.289/.364 with two home runs and eight RBI in 88 at-bats.

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon, who has spent most the season tearing up opposing pitchers, has finally slumped and is out of the lineup Saturday against Atlanta left-hander Mike Minor.

Blackmon has just seven hits in his last 36 at-bats as his average has dipped from .355 to .322. He has not had an extra-base hit since May 10.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton put together his third multi-homer game of the season Friday, in a 9-5 loss to the Brewers.

Stanton clubbed a pair of home runs in the game, though neither came with runners on base; he was joined by Garrett Jones, who also hit two solo home runs. Stanton went 2 for 4 in the game, with two RBI and two runs scored thanks to his home runs.

Stanton is off to the best start of his career, after struggling through an injury-plagued 2013 season. He is hitting .314/.404/.616, ranking fourth in the NL in OPS, while also leading the league in home runs (14) and RBI (47) in 49 games.  

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna homered for the second straight game Thursday against the Phillies. After hitting a grand slam Wednesday, Ozuna clubbed a two-run homer off Cole Hamels Thursday.

After being mired in a 8-for-57 slump to begin May, Ozuna is 4 for 8 (.500) in his last two games. He has two home runs, seven RBI and four runs since Wednesday.

 Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna showed real signs of breaking out of his slump Wednesday, as he played a big part in a 14-5 win over the Phillies.

Ozuna, who entered the game hitting just .140 in the month of May, drove in five runs while going 2 for 4. He brought in four of those runs with a grand slam, his seventh home run of the season and first since May 3.

Ozuna is hitting .255/.301/.416 in 161 at-bats on the season.