MLB Player News

When asked about outfielder Bryce Harper's return to the starting lineup, Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth made some strange comments, according to The Washington Post. 

"We’ll see which Bryce shows up," Werth said. "Of course, getting Bryce back will be huge. How many teams would like to acquire a power, left-handed bat and an outfielder who plays with his hair on fire? If he plays with his hair on fire. Like I said, we’ll see which Bryce shows up."

Harper had established a reputation of going all out prior to the injury. After running into the outfield wall in Los Angeles, Harper was more timid. While Werth could be hinting at Harper getting back to his all-out antics, first baseman Adam LaRoche took a different approach. "We just need to keep him out of trouble, keep him away from anything dangerous and he’ll be all right," LaRoche said.

Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 10 games Sunday with his first three-hit game in nearly four weeks against the Athletics.

Carpenter went 3 for 5 with two doubles and a home run, his first game with multiple extra-base hits since May 1. He scored two runs and drove in another in a 7-5 loss. The home run was his seventh and third in June.

Carpenter is hitting .322 with 32 RBI in 311 at-bats. He has 100 hits in 77 games after entering the season with 88 hits in his previous 121 games. 

The Nationals expect Bryce Harper to return from the disabled list Monday, and the Washington Post reports Sunday the team will send down a pitcher to make room for him.

Harper finished his four-game rehab stint Saturday for Double-A Harrisburg, finishing 4 for 11 with three extra-base hits while recovering from a knee injury. Harper is expected to start Monday against the Brewers, batting third and playing left field. The Nationals could use Harper as they are 15-16 without him in the lineup, compared to 25-18 when he played.

"Just add his energy, doing what he does," outfielder Denard Span said. "Some silly stuff. But just his presence, I think it gets everybody going. I think it will be good to have him back tomorrow."

Harper was hitting .287/.386/.587 before his injury. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna pushed his hitting streak to nine games Sunday against the Padres with a 2-for-4 performance. Ozuna also scored two runs.

Ozuna is batting .382 (13 for 34) with a home run, four doubles and nine RBI in his last nine games. He also has a stolen base and five runs.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton launched a solo home run in Saturday's 7-1 win against the Padres. Stanton extended his hitting streak to five games and homered for the fifth time since his DL activation June 10.

Stanton, who missed several weeks with a hamstring injury, is batting .313 (21 for 67) with five doubles, nine runs and 13 RBI in 17 games since returning to the Marlins' lineup.

With the July 31 trade deadline a month away, Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was asked Sunday by MLB Network Radio on whether he thought Stanton would be with Miami at the end of the season.

"I sure hope so, I think he's a pretty good player," Beinfest said.

Mets infielder Justin Turner (intercostal strain) is playing catch, but he has yet to swing a bat, according to ESPN. He is still a few weeks away from returning.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (knee) said he felt "pretty good" following his second outing for Double-A Harrisburg Saturday. Harper played nine innings for the first time during his four-game rehab assignment (two games for Class A Potomac).

"I felt pretty good the last couple days and nothing really feels anything like a setback or anything like that," he said, per MLB.com. "Everything feels good, so I'm excited about where I am and hopefully we can get going."

Harper is on track to the return to the Nationals' lineup Monday against the Brewers.

"It's just depends what (general manager Mike) Rizzo and them say," Harper said. "I'm not going to say anything, I don't know if I'm playing or not and we're just going to see how I feel (Sunday), see how I feel Monday and go from there."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will play nine innings for Double-A Harrisburg Saturday, MLB.com reports. Harper will then have the day off Sunday and rejoin the Nationals Monday against Milwaukee. 

Harper has played in one game for Harrisburg and went 2 for 4 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. He also walked in the game. 

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen had a big performance in his team's 10-3 win over the Brewers Friday, going 3 for 5 with one double, one run, three RBI and his ninth home run of the season.

The homer was just McCutchen's second of June, and only one of his 15 stolen bases have come this month. He has hit .293 in 294 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will not play for Double-A Harrisburg Friday, but he will play Saturday and Sunday before making his return to the Nationals Monday, manager Davey Johnson told the Washington Post Friday.

Harper has been out since May 26 while recovering from a knee injury. He is expected to return to the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Brewers.