MLB Player News

Cardinals All-Star second baseman Matt Carpenter had a big performance during Tuesday's 9-5 win vs. Houston. Carpenter rapped three hits, including two doubles, totaled three RBI and scored three times.

It was Carpenter's second three-hit game in July. He's hit safely in 15 of his last 17 games. Carpenter is batting .361 (26 for 72) with two triples, three home runs, eight doubles, 15 RBI and 17 runs in his last 17 games.

It might not show up in the stat column, but former Marlins reliever Jon Rauch made at least one significant contribution before he was jettisoned off the roster. Rauch helped rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna with his throwing accuracy by changing the way Ozuna grips the baseball, according to The Miami Herald.

"The ball was diving before," Ozuna said. "Jon Rauch told me to grab the ball with the seams behind. I saw the difference right away. The ball went straight, straight, straight -- no movement."

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt had a terrible performance during Monday's 16-inning loss to the Mets. Belt was hitless in eight at-bats and struck out five times.

Belt is the first San Francisco player since Jose Uribe in 1985 to go 0 for 8, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He is also the third Giants player to strike out five times, following Steve Whitaker in 1970 and Glenallen Hill in 1995.

Belt has struck out 11 times in his last five games and is batting .174 (4 for 23) in six July games.

The participants in the 2013 Home Run Derby were announced Monday, with Rockies outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer joining Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Mets third baseman and NL captain David Wright on the National League squad.

Gonzalez, who is suffering from a finger sprain, leads the National League with 24 home runs heading into Monday's action. Cuddyer is tied for ninth with 15 home runs, while Harper, who missed part of May and all of June due to injury, has 13 home runs, matching Wright's total.

The Rockies recalled outfielder Charlie Blackmon Monday to take the 25-man roster spot of pitcher Roy Oswalt, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Blackmon played in 12 games with the Rockies in May, hitting .240/.269/.360 with one home run, two RBI and one stolen base in 25 at-bats. He has hit .288/.376/.428 with three home runs, 40 RBI and seven stolen bases in 257 at-bats with Triple-A Colorado Springs.

With Ryan Howard sidelined, the Phillies will turn to Darin Ruf at first base.

Ruf is in the team's starting lineup Monday, and will hit seventh against Nationals pitcher Dan Haren. This marks Ruf's second straight start at first base. He's collected two hits in four at-bats in the majors. 

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon will join the team in San Diego, according to the Denver Post. 

Blackmon will likely replace Roy Oswalt, who is expected to hit the disabled list Monday. Blackmon's addition leaves the team without a starter Friday, so another move could be coming in the next few days. Blackmon hit .240 in 25 at-bats in the majors. He is hitting .288/.376/.428 in 257 at-bats in Triple-A Colorado Springs. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had three hits in Sunday's game against the Padres.

Harper came into the contest with just two hits in six games since returning from the disabled list. Harper singled three times, and drew a walk, putting him on base four times. He finished with two runs scored and one RBI. 

Harper is hitting .274/.375/.549 in 175 at-bats. 

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson has been sidelined with a strained oblique, according to The Los Angeles Times. Pederson is hitting .299 with 19 doubles, 14 homers, 60 runs and 38 RBI in 301 at-bats at Double-A. He has not played since Wednesday and is listed as day-to-day.

Phillies slugger Darin Ruf started at first base Sunday against the Braves in his second game since being recalled Saturday after first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) went on the disabled list. Manager Charlie Manuel said he will use Ruf at first base and in the outfield.

Ruf opened the year in the minors after a disappointing spring training. He hit just .266 with a .408 slugging percentage and seven home runs in 82 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but Ruf said his poor numbers were combination of working on his swing and battling a thumb injury, which he said is 100 percent healed.

"I just put too much pressure on myself or something or other," Ruf said of his spring, per MLB.com. "I just settled in as time went on. It was still early, starting a couple of weeks earlier than I was used to. It took me a little bit longer to get back into the swing of things. I'm happy with the way I finished and the progress I made."