MLB Player News

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley received a day of rest Thursday afternoon against the Cardinals. Utley has gotten off to an ice-cold start this season, hitting .114 (8 for 70) with two homers, 11 RBI and one stolen base in 21 games.

The team will have Darin Ruf bat third for only the second time in his career, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Ruf has not been in the starting lineup since April 23. He is hitting .139 (5 for 36) to start the season.

Philadelphia is considered an underdog (+160) at St. Louis, per VegasInsider.com.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson batted in the leadoff position for the first time in his career on Wednesday, and he did not disappoint. Pederson led off the Dodgers' half of the first inning with his fourth home run of the season. He also walked once and struck out once as the Dodgers defeated the Giants 7-3.

Pederson entered Wednesday's contest with the third-best on-base percentage in the National League, and with usual leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins struggling, manager Don Mattingly moved Pederson from the eighth spot to the top of the lineup.

"Obviously, he's handled that eighth spot," Mattingly said, per the Los Angeles Times. "It's really a tough spot for a young player, with that pitcher behind you. We're not asking him to do anything differently. I know everybody makes a big deal out of lineup changes and things, but you're not doing anything differently.

Pederson is slashing .348/.500/.826 with three home runs and six RBI over his last 10 games.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4 with three RBI in Miami's 7-3 win over the Mets Wednesday.

Stanton did his damage in the first inning when he crushed a Bartolo Colon pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer, his sixth of the year. He added another RBI on an infield single in the fifth.

Stanton is now hitting .284 with 21 RBI to lead the majors in 81 at-bats.

Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez only contributed one hit to the slugfest Wednesday in Minnesota. But it was one heck of a hit.

Martinez smashed one of four Detroit home runs in the victory. His solo blast in a four-run sixth that tied the game landed over the fence in left.

He has six home runs and 15 RBI on the year and a fine .545 slugging percentage.

If it was just about anyone else, it would be a ridiculous day at the plate. But what Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera did Wednesday has become practically mundane for him.

Cabrera went 3-for-4 (yawn). What made his afternoon in Minnesota exceptional was that he slammed two home runs to give him five on the season and three in the last four games.

His explosion started slowly with a mere run-scoring double in the fourth inning. He then rocketed a 446-foot blast to center in the sixth and a 430-foot shot to center in the ninth. By the time the dust settled, his slash line stood at .370/.453/.630.

Cabrera has 17 RBI on the year.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is leading off for the first time this season Wednesday in his team's matchup with the Giants.

"He may end up back [eighth]," manager Don Mattingly said before the game, per MLB.com. "We don't know when Yasiel [Puig] comes back. For now, I feel he fits right there [at leadoff]."

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been moved to No. 2 in the order, making it his first start this season out of the leadoff slot. Manager Don Mattingly also flipped first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and second baseman Howie Kendrick, with Kendrick moving up to the third spot and Gonzalez batting cleanup.

The Dodgers are heavy favorites (-200) against the Giants at home Wednesday.

Twins' Kennys Vargas returned to the starting lineup at first base Wednesday afternoon against Detroit. Vargas is mired in a 2-for-28 slump and was held out of the lineup the past three games. He is hitting just .161 with a home run in 56 at-bats this season.

The Marlins got RBI from three players in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mets. 

Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run in the sixth to put the Marlins on top and record his 18th RBI of the season.

J.T. Realmuto singled in Stanton for his third RBI of the year. 

Michael Morse singled in the game-winning run in the eighth for his eighth RBI of the year. 

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday after getting a third day off Tuesday, according to 1500 ESPN.

Vargas has been out of the lineup since Sunday, with Eduardo Nunez taking over the DH role. Vargas has been in a bit of a slump and manager Paul Molitor has been pushing for Vargas to work on his pitch recognition. He is hitting just .161 with a home run in 56 at-bats this season.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has gotten off to a slow start to the season. Entering action on Tuesday, he was hitting .175 for the year and had an 0-for-16 stretch that ended on Sunday. 

"We’ve had a handful of guys spark our club," manager Clint Hurdle said, per the Post Gazette. After listing five members of the lineup, Hurdle said. "All of them have been involved (in the offense). McCutchen really hasn't." 

Hurdle isn't ready to push the panic button. He's confident McCutchen will heat up. "I believe it’s just one of those stretches," he said. "He’s going to produce. He’s going to hit. He’s going to drive in runs. He’s going to score runs."