MLB Player News

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals Monday.

McCutchen put his team up 4-2 with his seventh-inning blast, but the Cardinals were able to cross the plate three times in the bottom of the seven to pull out a win. McCutchen owns a .308/.401/.539 line with 21 home runs, 72 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 458 at-bats.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 4 with a walk and a solo home run in his team's 9-6 win over the Mets Monday.

Stanton delivered the first blow in the high-scoring game in the first inning with his NL-leading 34th home run. He has hit .292/.401/.554 with 99 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 504 at-bats.

The Dodgers recalled outfielder Joc Pederson, second baseman Alex Guererro, catcher Tim Federowicz and pitcher Yimi Garcia Monday with rosters expanding in September.

Pederson closed out his first season with Triple-A Albuquerque by hitting .303/.435/.582 with 33 home runs, 78 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 445 at-bats.

In addition, the team activated pitcher Chris Perez from the disabled list. Perez has been out since Aug. 3 while nursing an ankle injury.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is still approximately 10 days away from resuming baseball-related activities, according to the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday. Belt has been sidelined since Aug. 6 because of a concussion. He remains without a timetable moving forward.

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler put together his third multi-hit game in a row to start his career Friday, in a 7-2 win over the Cardinals.

Soler went 3 for 3 with a walk, while clubbing two home runs and driving in three runs total. He has seven hits in his first three major-league games, including three home runs, while driving in six runs.  

As much as I wrote about Jorge Soler leading up to his promotion and the day it actually came, I'm at risk of beating a dead horse here, but now that he has a couple 2-for-4 games under his belt, I feel the need to reiterate: You want him in Fantasy.

Maybe in shallower leagues where every team starts just three outfielders and half the owners checked out at the All-Star break, allowing you to build up incomparable depth at the position, OK, you can let him go, but the impact he could make for you this time of year is worth the risk of him sputtering like so many of the high-profile hitter prospects who came before him this year.

And aside from George Springer, I'm not sure any of those prospects was as prepared for his promotion as Soler. True, he ascended the ladder quickly, collecting just 175 at-bats above high Class A, but he was no average minor-leaguer, having played at the highest level of Cuba. Once it clicked for him after a two-year adjustment period, the minor leagues couldn't hold him back. In terms of batting average, slugging percentage and OPS, he was neck-and-neck with Kris Bryant at the time of his promotion.

And unlike Springer, Jon Singleton, Javier Baez, his success wasn't accompanied by a worrisome strikeout rate. He'll strike out his fair share, like any young slugger, but it won't be the impediment it's been for them.

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler hit a solo home run in his major-league debut Wednesday as the Cubs fell to the Reds, 7-5.

Soler went back-to-back with Luis Valbuena, driving a ball over the centerfield fence to cement a memorable debut. He finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has taken the opportunity and run with it at the plate.

Turner has become an every-day player since mid-August and has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He has 11 hits in 28 at-bats with seven RBI and five runs scored. His stat line on the season has improved to .316/.387/.442.

A rib ailment that knocked Pirates slugger Andrew McCutchen out of the Tuesday night game does not have him sidelined for the Wednesday afternoon game against visiting St. Louis. He is in the lineup.

McCutchen sustained the injury crashing into the wall in the third inning, though he remained in the game for a while. His hitless performance ended a strong stretch in which he slugged seven hits, including three home runs, in the previous four games.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was removed from Tuesday's game due to left rib discomfort, the team announced.

McCutchen crashed into the wall while making a play in the third inning and remained in for a few innings before coming out. He finished 0 for 3 at the plate and will be re-evaluated Wednesday.