MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was not in the starting lineup, as expected, Wednesday against the Orioles. Harper has been dealing with swelling and soreness in his knee and is expected to miss Thursday's game as well.  

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter hit his fourth home run in Tuesday's win over Kansas City.

Carpenter finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. He has been an ideal table setter at the top of the lineup for St. Louis. His on-base percentage is up to .394 and he's been able to hit for a bit of power as well -- the home run has his slugging percentage up to a sharp .455.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is still experiencing swelling in his knee and is unlikely to be available either Wednesday or Thursday, even as a designated hitter in an American League park.

Harper is out Tuesday against the Orioles but is not expected to be placed on the disabled list. 

As expected, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was out of the lineup yet again Tuesday, as he continues to deal with bursitis in his left knee. He remains day to day as a result of the injury. 

The Nationals did not include outfielder Bryce Harper in the lineup Monday against the Orioles as he's dealing with a knee injury. Harper was pulled for a pinch runner after limping down the first base line in the seventh inning Sunday. 

Harper is considered day to day for the Nationals after an MRI showed no damage to his left knee. He has been diagnosed with bursitis, CSN Washington reports.

Harper has a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5 for 16 (.313) with a homer and an RBI. He's batting .287 on the season. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna stayed hot going 2 for 4 in a loss Sunday to the White Sox.

Ozuna's hits were singles, but he scored a run and had an RBI. Ozuna is hitting .304 through 92 at-bats, but has struck out 22 times, including once Sunday. It will be difficult for Ozuna to keep hitting for such a high average if he doesn't start making more contact.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was pulled for a pinch runner in Sunday's game against Philadelphia due to a knee injury, MASN reports.

Harper limped down to first base after a seventh-inning walk on the same left knee that has been bothering him of late. It doesn't look good for his chances to play Monday. Consider him day to day.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (back) returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Belt singled in the second and drew a walk in the ninth as he finished 1 for 3 in a 5-0 defeat.

Belt is hitting .300 (6 for 20) with one home run and one RBI in his last six games. He has a .253/.323/.432 slash line in 146 at-bats.

The Phillies had an open roster spot with Chase Utley on the disabled list Thursday, but a poorly timed slump cost Darin Ruf a chance to get back to the majors. Ruf is hitting .103 over the last seven games heading into play Friday.

The fact that Ruf can only play in the outfield or first base also hurt his chances.

"I think the better fit was someone who could play all over the field," assistant GM Scott Proefrock told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We’ve got two (interleague) games. It would be hard to find (Ruf) a place to play, and it probably wouldn’t be the right fit."

Ruf has a .772 on-base plus slugging percent at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with a .262 batting average, a career-worst mark. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the starting lineup as expected Friday against the Rockies. Belt was held out of the starting lineup for the team's previous game Wednesday against the Nationals but appeared later in the game as a pinch-hitter.