MLB Player News

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk and three runs in Saturday's win over the White Sox.

After hitting just .193 with one homer in his first 63 games this year, Buxton's finishing the season strong by batting .277 with seven homers, 18 RBI and a .936 OPS in September. At just 22 years old, the former phenom still has time to significantly change from the struggle his first two years have been overall. He showed good isolated power this year (with eight homers in under 300 at-bats), but still needs to improve extremely low contact and walk rates, and a high strikeout rate. A promotion to the top part of the lineup would help Buxton's outlook next year -- perhaps he'll get that after his strong finish this year.

Ozuna is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports.

Christian Yelich is the only regular outfielder in the lineup for the Marlins on Saturday, as Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton will make way for Destin Hood and Jeff Francoeur, respectively.

Stanton is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports.

The Marlins will rest several regulars as they play out the string against the Nationals. Jeff Francoeur will start in right field and hit fifth. Stanton has now sat out two games in a row, and it would not come as a big surprise if he was also absent from Sunday's lineup as he is fairly banged up at this point in the season.

McCutchen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

McCutchen has cooled off a bit over the last week after putting together a strong start to September, and he has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats. After a 1-for-4 effort Friday, McCutchen will get the day off Saturday, as the Pirates go with Gregory Polanco in center.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.

Pederson started Thursday against left-hander Christian Friedrich, but he will be held out Friday with a tougher southpaw -- Madison Bumgarner -- on the mound for the opponent. Enrique Hernandez will handle center field for the Dodgers on Friday night.

Soler (side) will likely return to action Sunday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Soler has started just one game since Sept. 16 due to the soreness in his side, but it appears he will be able to take the field once more before the regular season ends.

Stanton is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.

Stanton has just five hits in 10 games since rejoining the lineup Sept. 16, so manager Don Mattingly decided to hold him out. Marcell Ozuna will cover right field in Stanton's place, and Derek Dietrich will replace Ozuna in left field.

Harper (thumb) is in the lineup Friday against the Marlins, radio play-by-play announcer Charlie Slowes reports.

Harper had sat out the previous four games with a thumb injury, and with the Nationals already clinching the NL East title it wasn't a given that he'd return before the end of the regular season. He's apparently recovered enough though, as he'll slot back into the starting lineup to open up the final series of the year, manning his usual responsibilities in right field and batting third against Miami starter Andrew Cashner.

Vargas went 2-for-5 with his tenth home run of the season in Thursday's win over Kansas City.

Vargas has quietly had a productive season when he's been able to find playing time with a .897 OPS in 44 games. It's been hard for him to find consistent playing time with a logjam of players at first base and DH for the Twins. That's hopefully a situation that will be resolved when a new Twins GM is hired in the offseason, which could finally give Vargas a path to steady at-bats in the majors.

Buxton went 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk in Thursday's win over Kansas City.

Buxton is hitting .286/.343/.615 with seven home runs and two triples in September. It looks like he's finally figured out how to hit in the majors after hitting .193 with a .561 OPS before September. It's just one month, but his display of power could foreshadow a breakout season in 2017.