MLB Player News

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen has had two multi-hit games in four June appearances and has 13 multi-hit games since April 29. McCutchen is batting .331 (43 for 130) in his last 33 games, raising his season average from .216 to .284 in that span.

McCutchen is also slugging .500 with five home runs, seven doubles, eight stolen bases, 12 walks, 17 RBI and 21 runs in his last 33 games.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 14 games Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, going 4 for 5.

He had the team's lone extra-base hit, a double off starter Wade Miley, and raised his batting average to .333 in a 10-3 loss.

Carpenter is hitting .450 during his hitting streak, with five strikeouts in 60 at-bats. He has seven extra-base hits and 14 runs scored during the streak. 

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter pushed his hitting streak to 13 games Tuesday against the Diamondbacks with a 2-for-4 performance. Carpenter is batting .418 (23 for 55) with one home run, one triple, four doubles, five RBI, six walks and 14 runs during the streak.

Since May 1, Carpenter has a slash line of .369/.462/.492/.953 in his last 30 games. Most of his success has come out of the leadoff spot, where Carpenter is batting .340 with a .435 on-base percentage in 36 games.

"Just given the way that I take an at-bat and, you know, get on base, I thought that there would be a possibility that I could be a good leadoff hitter, but I just never really fit the mold," Carpenter said, per MLB.com. "Never really got that opportunity. I've enjoyed it. I want to get on there for these guys and keep our offense rolling."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton played the first five innings Tuesday for Class A Jupiter, his first appearance as part of a minor-league rehab assignment. Stanton went 0 for 3, while playing right field.

It is not known how long the team wants him to be on his rehab assignment, but he could get extra playing time, as the Hammerheads are playing a doubleheader Tuesday. He's expected to be the designated hitter in the second game.

According to MLB.com, the team hopes Stanton can return to the field within a week. 

In anticipation of Giancarlo Stanton nearing a return, Marlins manager Mike Redmond told reporters that Marcell Ozuna will start seeing some action at center field.

Stanton will start his rehab assignment Tuesday and could return as early as next week. Ozuna has played all 32 of his games at right field with Stanton out. The 22-year-old is hitting .352 (25 for 71) with 11 RBI in his last 19 games.

"We're going to start working on ... possibly moving Ozuna into center a lit bit, taking some fly balls in center and left for when Stanton gets here," Redmond told The Miami Herald. "We want to have some flexibility there."

Class A Jupiter, a Marlins' affiliate' announced Tuesday that Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is ready to begin his minor-league rehab assignment. Stanton will be the designated hitter Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.

Stanton has been on the disabled list since April 29 due to a hamstring strain, and it is not clear how long he will be on his rehab assignment.  

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna entered the majors with a track record that suggested a powerful but inconsistent hitter. So far he’s proven to be just the opposite.

His .333 average with 15 RBI and one home run has analysts scratching their heads trying to peg Ozuna’s hitter identity. Nando Di Fino offered his theory on Monday’s Fantasy Baseball Today that Miami’s “cavernous” stadium has Ozuna’s power developing slowly. Scott White added that he initially saw Ozuna as a Dayan Viciedo, but so far he’s been more of a Michael Brantley.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Monday outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) is going through base-running drills at the team's spring complex and that a rehab assignment might not be far off, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Just a day after having his 16-game hitting streak snapped, Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna bounced back with a big day at the plate Sunday against the Mets.

Ozuna fell a home run shy of the cycle as he finished 3 for 5 with two runs scored and four RBI in an 11-6 victory. He is hitting .358 (24 for 67) with 10 RBI in his last 18 games played.

Brandon Belt entered the game Sunday in the seventh inning and used his lone at-bat to secure a 4-2 win for the San Francisco Giants at St. Louis.

Belt, who came in as a pinch hitter for starting pitcher Chad Gaudin, doubled to score two runs, which ended up being the difference.

The first baseman struggled at the beginning of the season as he was ill and took a while to regain his strength. After hitting .235 in April, he was up to .266 in May and his overall average is now .250. Belt has 28 RBI and six home runs.