MLB Player News

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.

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."