MLB Player News

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter has at least one strikeout in five of his last six games and has totaled 32 through 32 games, which is well ahead of the pace he set last season with 98 strikeouts in 157 games.

"He has such a good eye and knows his zone (but) those borderlines are getting called right now," manager Mike Matheny said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "You see Carp fouling off tough pitches. I see him fouling off some pitches that he would normally square up a little more. Having a high pitch count isn’t necessarily a good thing when you’re getting pitches you can drive."

Carpenter, who is averaging 4.24 pitches per at-bat, is hitting .264 with a .314 slugging percentage after batting .318 with a .481 slugging percentage last season. Carpenter said he's still not comfortable yet with his swing.

"That’s the beauty of this game and especially my skill set -- even if my swing is just OK I can be productive too, get on base, take a walk, find a way to squeak a base hit in," Carpenter said. "That’s kind of been the story of my season so far. The swing has not felt great, yet. I’m trying to find a way to work counts, get good pitches and battle. The (swing) wasn’t great. It didn’t feel great. But in terms of being competitive, that’s one thing you can do everyday."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continued his assault on baseballs Sunday against the Dodgers.

Stanton didn't waste any time going to work. He smashed a two-run shot in his first at-bat to the opposite field. Stanton was actually bested his second time up, striking out against Stephen Fife. He rebounded nicely in the sixth, leading off the inning with a solo shot on a 77 mph curveball. He walked in his final at-bat.

Stanton finished 2 for 3, with two runs scored and three RBI. He's hitting .285 with 10 home runs. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna went 2 for 6 with a three-run home run in his team's 9-7, extra-innings loss to the Dodgers Saturday.

Ozuna's home run cut the Dodgers' lead to 7-6 in the seventh inning before the Marlins tied the game in the ninth. He has hit .289/.339/.465 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 114 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was just 1 for 4 Saturday but hit his eighth home run in his teams' 3-1 win over the Braves.

Belt kicked off the scoring with a second-inning solo home run, and his offense would follow with two more solo home runs in the low-scoring affair. He has hit .252/.291/.495 while striking out 35 times in 111 at-bats.

Rockies center fielder and leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon not only remained torrid at the plate Friday night against the Mets, but he matched his 2013 home run total in the process.

Blackmon slugged his sixth home run in 108 at-bats after doing the same in 246 at-bats last season. He hit a solo blast in the seventh and added two singles in raising his average to .380 and slugging percentage to .630.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen collected three hits Saturday against the Blue Jays.

McCutchen worked an eight-pitch at-bat in the first inning, eventually hitting a double. He would be left stranded at second base. McCutchen singled in a run in his next at-bat, and later singled again in the bottom of the fifth inning. He also stole his fourth base of the year following the hit. 

McCutchen finished the game 3 for 5, with no runs scored and two RBI. He's hitting .309 in 110 at-bats. 

The Dodgers are using the second game of a doubleheader and a game in an American League city Thursday to get little-used players some action.

Scott Van Slyke is set to play in left with Justin Turner starting at short. Hanley Ramirez will be used as the designated hitter. Outfielders Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford are set to sit after playing in the opener.

Marlins Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna extended his hitting streak to six games in a big way Wednesday, as he drove in three runs in a 9-3 win over the Braves.

Ozuna did much of his damage in his first at-bat, as he clubbed a three-run home run to right field to put the Marlins up early. He finished the game 2 for 4 with two strikeouts overall.

Ozuna is off to a strong start in his second season, hitting .310/.364/.480 through his first 100 at-bats. 

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Tuesday outfielder Darin Ruf (oblique) has been taking batting practice and is expected to begin playing in extended spring games by the end of the week.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 4 Tuesday but made his only hit count, smacking a two-run home run in his team's 9-0 win over the Braves.

Stanton hasn't had a multihit performance in nine games and only five hits over that stretch but four have been for extra bases, with his last two clearing the fench for home runs. He has hit .269/.345/.567 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in 104 at-bats.