MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Padres.

He was given the day off against left-hander Eric Stults. He is a career .226 hitter with seven homers and 26 RBI against lefties. He is hitting .171 with two home runs and four RBI in 12 May games.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, could begin jogging next week, according to manager Mike Redmond.

Stanton has been limited to aquatic workouts since the injury. He has been sidelined with a strained hamstring since April 29. He hit .227 with three homers and nine RBI before the injury. The team has not issued a timetable for his return.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen strung together his second straight multi-hit game Friday, as he raised his batting average 16 points in two days.

McCutchen went 3 for 5 with a double and a solo home run, in addition to scoring twice in a 5-4 win. He is batting .276 for the season after falling to .260 after a 0-for-3 game Wednesday. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been heating up over his last 20 games, batting .305 with five home runs. So, why is he still owned in less than 60 percent of leagues?

Our Nando Di Fino said on Friday’s broadcast of Fantasy Baseball Today that he doesn’t see Belt’s ownership percentage staying low for very long. The term “breakout” was tossed around a few times in his assessment of Belt’s expected rest-of-season production.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper wasn't feeling great before Thursday's game against the Padres, but he certainly seemed fine when the game started.

Harper went 1 for 4 in the game, but his one hit was a loud one. He slugged his 11th home run of the season an estimated 431 feet, to put the finishing touches on a 6-2 win. Harper also struck out once to go along with his solo shot.

Harper was out of the starting lineup for two games in a row with soreness in his shoulder, knees and rib cage following a collision with a wall Monday. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna looked to be headed to another hitless night Thursday against the Reds, especially as fireballing closer Aroldis Chapman took the mound with a one-run lead. Ozuna looked at a pair of balls from Chapman and then drove a game-tying triple to left field with two outs.

Ozuna finished the game 1 for 3, with a sacrifice bunt as well as the RBI triple. The Marlins fell, 5-3. He is now batting .298 15 games into his rookie campaign. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was back in the starting lineup Thursday against the Padres, his first start since running into a wall at Dodger Stadium Monday.

Harper is in his usual spot, playing left field and batting third, despite admitting to the Washington Times earlier in the day that he wasn't feeling great. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper received a pinch-hit appearance Wednesday, but isn't feeling great, according to the Washington Times. 

When asked, Harper said he felt "terrible." Manager Davey Johnson said Harper "should be all right" Thursday, but Harper was more cryptic, saying "we'll see."

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper made a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game, grounding out to first base in a 3-1 loss. It was Harper's first game action since slamming into an outfield wall Monday.

Harper's status for Thursday's series opener against the Padres is unknown.

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper, who was out of the starting lineup Monday while dealing with shoulder and knee injuries, also reported soreness in his rib cage Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Harper is still considered day to day.