MLB Player News

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.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said that outfielder Bryce Harper underwent successful thumb surgery Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

Harper's return should come in six to eight weeks, with Williams adding, "We're optimistic."

Harper suffered a UCL tear in his thumb during a head-first slide into third base while legging out a triple Saturday. He has hit .289/.352/.422 with one home run and nine RBI in 83 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb Tuesday, ESPN.com reports.

Harper's recovery from the injury is expected to keep him out of action until at least early July. He suffered the injury on a head-first slide into third base Friday. It'sa  big blow to the Nationals, who are four games back in the NL East as of Monday.

The Nationals fear outfielder Bryce Harper (thumb) might miss significantly more time than his 15-day stay on the disabled list, sources told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Harper is scheduled to see a hand specialist Monday.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf is making progress, but is not expected to be activated during the team's seven-game homestand. Ruf, who is working his way back from a strained oblique, will need to play in extended spring training games before rejoining the big-league club.

"He needs at-bats," the general manager said. "He needs to play in games. We'll start him off at extended and see where he goes from there but he needs at-bats."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will get a second opinion on the sprained thumb that just landed him on the 15-day disabled list. The evaluation will determine the injury's severity and how long it will keep him out, reports the Washington Post.

"Doesn't look good," a person familiar with the situation told the paper.

Harper wore a small cast on his hand during Saturday's win over the Padres. He got hurt Friday sliding headfirst into third on his three-run triple.

Nats manager Matt Williams said Harper suffered a similar sprain in high school, and that the second opinion will sort out what damage is new, according to the Post.

The Nationals placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 26, with a sprained left thumb, reports the Washington Post. Washington recalled Steven Souza Jr. from Class AAA Syracuse.

Harper, who suffered the injury Friday, was hitting .289 with a homer and nine RBI.