MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was one of the few bright spots on offense Friday.

Harper played a big role with the bat. In the fifth inning, Harper notched the team's first hit on an infield single. In his next at-bat, Harper led off the seventh inning with a mammoth solo home run. The hit was later ruled the longest home run of Harper's career. Despite the strong game, the Nationals couldn't mount a comeback. Harper finished 2 for 4, with one run scored and one RBI. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went hitless Wednesday against the Giants.

The entire Pirate offense was shut down by Madison Bumgarner, who allowed just four hits all night. McCutchen struck out, flew out and grounded out in three at-bats. He did reach base once, walking in the fourth inning. McCutchen hit .314/.410/.542 over 548 at-bats during the regular season.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 2 for 3 with two walks and three RBI in his team's 8-0 wild-card victory over the Pirates Wednesday.

Belt was on base when Brandon Crawford opened up the scoring with a fourth-inning grand slam, and the first baseman tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh on a pair of singles. Belt and the Giants face the Nationals in Washington Friday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Marlins president David Samson said even if the team can't sign outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a long-term deal, he is still expected to be part of the Marlins' plans next season, per The Miami Herald.

"He’s on this team [in 2015] either way," Samson said. "I can’t wait until after the season to sit down with Giancarlo and [agent] Joel Wolfe and talk about contract. We’re ready. We want him to be a Marlin well past his arbitration years.

"We hope that he believes in us and believes in Miami and believes in the direction of this team and recognizes that he has a chance to be the leader of a successful team for many years to come."

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 4-3 loss to the Padres Wednesday.

Blackmon put his team up immediately with a home run to lead off the top of the first inning, but the Padres answered with a three-run blast in the bottom half of the first and didn't relinquish the lead. The outfielder has hit .285/.333/.438 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 578 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen hit his 25th home run Wednesday against the Braves.

McCutchen struck in the fifth inning. With a man on base, he belted an 87 mph fastball from Julio Teheran out to left. McCutchen also singled during the contest. He finished 2 for 5, with one run scored and two RBI. 

Dodgers second baseman Justin Turner went 2 for 4 with two solo home runs in his team's 4-2 win over the Giants Tuesday.

Turner had just one home run in 35 September at-bats coming into Tuesday but put his team on the board with a first-inning blast and followed it up with another in the eighth. Turner has hit .333/.397/.482 with seven home runs, 41 RBI and six stolen bases in 282 at-bats.

After sitting out with a stomach bug, both Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams returned to the Cardinals' starting lineup for Monday's game at the Cubs. Neither player has appeared in a game since Friday.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the ankle sprain Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna suffered Sunday against the Nationals is in fact a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for the final week of the regular season.

First baseman Justin Bour could get more playing time with Ozuna sidelined, with Garrett Jones shifting to the outfield.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna left Sunday's game against the Nationals after turning over his right ankle running into second base. According to the Palm Beach Post, X-rays on Ozuna's ankle were negative, and he has been diagnosed with a sprain.

Right fielder Enrique Hernandez shifted to center field to replace Ozuna, while Garrett Jones replaced Hernandez defensively.