MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will hit second and play left field during his first rehab game Tuesday.

Harper is playing at Class A Potomac. He is still the youngest player on the team's roster, despite already establishing himself as a major-league regular. Harper will not speak to reporters before or after the game, so he will not give any updates about his health. 

Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats. He's been out since May 26 with a knee injury.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at High Class A Potomac, CSN Washington reports. Harper took batting practice without issue Monday and so the club decided to expedite his rehab assignment. He is expected to return to the Nationals by June 30 at the latest. He has been out with left knee bursitis since late May.

The Giants have recalled reliever George Kontos from Triple-A Fresno, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Kontos is appealing his three-game suspension for hitting Andrew McCutchen on June 12. As such, Kontos will be eligible to pitch in relief for San Francisco on Monday. Kontos owns a 5.96 ERA in 29 2/3 innings in relief for the Giants this year.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter accounted for his team's only run in a 2-1 loss Sunday against the Rangers with a solo home run off Nick Tepesch in the sixth inning. Carpenter finished 2 for 3 with one walk.

Carpenter has hit safely in his last five games, batting .474 (9 for 19) with one home run, two doubles, two RBI, two walks and four runs. It comes on the heels of Carpenter batting .115 (3 for 26) over a seven-game stretch from June 11-18.

Despite his mid-June slide, Carpenter is batting .349 (30 for 86) with two triples, two home runs, four doubles and nine RBI in 21 June games.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is expected to begin his rehab assignment this week, according to The Washington Post. 

Harper took batting practice Sunday, and his knee responded well. He's planning on working out at Nationals Park Monday and Tuesday, and could head to Class A Potomac Wednesday. Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats. 

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter continued his barrage on major-league pitching Sunday.

Carpenter performed well on a national stage, hitting his sixth home run. Carpenter also added a single and a walk. He finished 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. He's on a short hot streak, collecting nine hits over his last five games. Carpenter has raised his slash line to .322/.403/.472 in 286 at-bats. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (knee) will work out in Washington Monday and Tuesday, according to The Washington Times. He won't start a rehab assignment until Wednesday at the earliest.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is getting his first day off in nearly two weeks, as he is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

McCutchen has started 72 of his team's 75 games in center field, and he has played a complete game in each of the team's 12 games over the last 12 days. He should be right back in the lineup after Monday's off day.

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter went 2 for 4 against the Rangers Saturday, earning his 10th multi-hit performance of June and his 30th multi-hit game of the season. The barrage of hits has given Carpenter a .318/.399/.459 line with five home runs and 26 RBI in 283 at-bats.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen broke a June homerless drought Saturday against the Angels, going 1 for 5 with his eighth home run of the season. He had failed to homer in 71 at-bats this month heading into Saturday's action.

McCutchen has hit .288/.357/.453 with eight home runs, 37 RBI, 48 runs and 15 stolen bases in 278 at-bats.