MLB Player News

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. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen put together his second multi-hit game in a row Wednesday, in a 9-8 win over the Orioles.

McCutchen, who went 2 for 3 and reached base three times Tuesday, was on base three times yet again Wednesday. This time, he went 3 for 5 with two doubles, one RBI and a pair of runs scored.

McCutchen is now hitting .317/.436/.488 on the season, with 21 RBI and 23 runs scored in 44 games.   

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna was hitting well over .300 after the first month of the season, and the 23-year-old seemed to be figuring himself out after an up-and-down rookie season.

Unfortunately, the month of May has brought back the bad side of his inconsistency, as he entered play Wednesday against the Phillies hitting just .140. A big part of his step back has been an inability to make contact; after striking out 21 times in 100 at-bats in April, he has already whiffed 22 times in 57 trips in May.

"He goes through spurts where he's too aggressive, and then he's too patient," manager Mike Redmond told MLB.com Wednesday. "He will take some fastballs and swing at some breaking balls, which happens with a lot of young guys. The big leagues are a monster."

Ozuna is down to a .687 OPS in 44 games this season, after posting a .693 number as a rookie. He does already have 23 RBI and six home runs, in 44 games, after hitting three longballs in 70 games last season. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf may not be with the team long, after being called up Wednesday from Triple-A.

Ruf, who replaced Cliff Lee on the active roster, could go right back down when Lee's spot in the rotation comes up again Saturday. The team has not made a decision on that at this point, but will have to before Saturday.

"He could be here for three months or three days," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're not sure yet."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will begin doing range of motion exercises soon, according to MASN. 

Harper will see an occupational therapist soon, and could begin strengthening exercises. It would be the first step in Harper's rehab process. The news will not change his injury timeline. Harper hit .289 in 83 at-bats prior to the injury.

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler is dealing with a hamstring injury again, according to MLB.com.

Soler injured his left hamstring during spring training, and missed a considerable amount of time recovering from the injury. Now, he's dealing with a right hamstring strain. He's exepected to rehab at the team complex in Arizona. Soler has played in just seven games due to the injuries. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf has been called up Wednesday.

Ruf will take the roster spot of Cliff Lee, who was placed on the disabled list Tuesday night. Ruf has hit .265 over 46 at-bats in the minors. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter reached base five times Sunday against the Braves.

Carpenter singled in his first at-bat before walking in his next three plate appearances. He added another single in his final at-bat. Carpenter finished 2 for 2, with one run scored and no RBI. Carpenter is hitting .265 in 170 at-bats.

For the first time this season, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton did not find his name in the starting lineup Sunday against the Giants. He was replaced by Ed Lucas in right field.

Stanton has failed to record a hit in just one of 17 May games. He is batting .410 (25 for 61) with one triple, four doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs and 13 walks in May.