MLB Player News

What is being described as left glute tightness has prompted the removal of Nationals slugger Bryce Harper from the Wednesday game in St. Louis, according to MLB.com.

Harper was replaced in the field at the bottom of the fourth inning. The team has yet to reveal the seriousness of the issue or a timetable for his return to action.

Nationals slugger Bryce Harper was pulled from the game Wednesday night in St. Louis for reasons not yet revealed.

Harper did not run out a popout leading off the fourth and was replaced in the bottom of the inning, but it remains to be seen if that was the motivation for Matt Williams to take him out.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is expected to test out his surgically repaired wrist by swinging a bat on Wednesday. 

If Stanton reports no issues, he could play in a rehab game for Class A Jupiter on Wednesday night, according to MLB.com. 

Stanton, of course, has been sidelined for over two months with a broken wrist. The team had been hopeful for his return on Friday, but there has been no word as to whether that will happen or not.

Phillies first baseman Darin Ruf drove in a season-high six runs to help send the Phillies to a 14-8 win over the Mets on Tuesday.

Ruf went 3 for 5 at the plate with six RBI and two runs scored. His biggest hit came in the third when he connected for a three-run shot off Jonathon Niese.

Hope that Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton can return by his Friday target date has faded, per MLB.com.

Stanton said Tuesday he felt "not 100 percent."

A broken hand has prevented Stanton from playing since June 26. He has not played in any rehab games.

The Tigers are giving outfielder J.D. Martinez his first day off in over two months, as he is being held out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the Blue Jays. Martinez had started every game for the Tigers since June 24.

The All-Star outfielder has been enjoying a career-year in 2015, and he has maintained his good fortunes lately. Over his last 10 games, Martinez owns a .308 average with three home runs and eight RBI.

Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes stayed red-hot at the plate on Thursday, as he connected on a two-run home run in the 9-5 win over the Phillies. Cespedes' home run came in the fifth inning, as the Mets stormed back to erase a five-run deficit.

The home run was Cespdes' only hit of the night, but it was his eighth longball since coming to the Mets at the July 31 trade deadline. Perhaps even more impressively, over his last eight games, Cespedes is batting .350 with six home runs and 15 RBI. He has certainly been a catalyst for the Mets' recent upswing.

Andrew McCutchen had a big night at the plate for the Pirates, driving in four runs to help his team cruise to a victory over the Marlins. 

McCutchen got the Pirates on the board with a first-inning double and followed that with a three-run homer in the second as Pittsburgh opened a 7-1 lead. McCutchen now has five home runs and 19 RBIs in August. 

With his 20th home run, McCutchen has now reached that benchmark in five straight seasons.

Left fielder Michael Brantley had a big night in the Indians' 11-6 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday. The star outfielder went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs, four RBI and three runs scored. He also added his 14th stolen base of the year, as he completely filled up the box score.

The two dingers give Brantley 11 on the season. He popped a two-run shot in the fourth inning, and another two-run blast in the eighth.

Over his last 10 games, Brantley is batting .357 with three home runs and 10 RBI. He is also 14-for-15 in stolen base attempts overall this season.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton could be nearing a return from a broken hand. Stanton, who has been on on the disabled list since the end of June, is hoping to return by September 4 against the Mets, according to MLB.com.

"I'm feeling good," Stanton said on Tuesday. "I'd say I'm still about a week and a half [away]."

Stanton is not expected to play in any rehab games, mainly due to the fact that the minor-league schedule is starting to wrap up. 

"I know he's been progressing in a good way," manager Dan Jennings said. "I had a good visit with him [Monday]. He told me he was feeling stronger, didn't feel it when he turned his wrist. That's a good sign."

Despite missing two months with the injury, Stanton still ranks fifth in the National League with 27 home runs.