MLB Player News

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5 with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases in his team's 8-1 win over the Rays Monday.

McCutchen stole second base off Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb after a first-inning single, and turned the same trick in the third inning after another single. He added one more single and his second RBI of the game in the ninth inning. McCutchen has hit .317/.424/.525 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 284 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper began a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac Monday, singling and drawing a walk in two plate appearances while playing three innings in left field.

Harper is scheduled to play five innings Tuesday before taking Wednesday off. He is expected to see time at all three outfield positions during his rehab assignment. Harper has been sidelined since late April while recovering from thumb surgery.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt said Monday that he remains on target to return from the disabled list on July 4, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Out since May 9 while recovering from thumb surgery, Belt is hoping to begin a rehab assignment within the next week. He has been able to take grounders and batting practice over the last few days. Belt has hit .264/.317/.504 with nine home runs and 18 RBI in 129 at-bats.

I've made no secret that Brad Miller was one of my favorite breakout picks coming into the year, and even when I finally relented to dropping him in mid-May, I was careful to note that it wasn't goodbye forever, that you'd want to keep an eye out for when his fortunes eventually turned.

It may already be happening.

So far in June -- a span of 20 games -- he's batting .323 (21 for 65) with three home runs and an .883 OPS. His strikeout rate is still a little too high for comfort, but he's coming off his best week in terms of Head-to-Head scoring (25 points) and doing nothing that would have alarmed anyone if this was the way he started the season.

Miller hit .334 with a .925 OPS over his minor-league career and was the 10th-best shortstop in Head-to-Head leagues from the time he reached the big leagues last season. I still like Eugenio Suarez more among bargain-basement shortstops, but Miller himself is available in 64 percent of leagues. That number should shrink significantly between now and the All-Star break.

So I did something bold during my weekly add-drop session Sunday afternoon: I put in a claim for J.D. Martinez in just about every league where he was available.

Notice I said "just about." I understand that in some leagues, namely those of a shallower variety, creating roster space for a player of his stature is unconscionable, so just to add context, Collin McHugh was the player I dropped in the one league where I was successful. I was ready to drop Marco Estrada, A.J. Burnett, Adam Lind and Lucas Duda in others, though.

In short, I don't want to be late to the party like I was with Corey Dickerson. Martinez's minor-league track record is nearly as impressive as Dickerson's -- he has hit .332 with a .942 OPS in parts of six seasons -- but his major-league track record is so unimpressive by comparison that I'm naturally inclined to disregard what he's doing now.

I'm doing my best to fight that inclination in the hope of scoring big, like Dickerson's owners have done.

The recent reports of Martinez overhauling his swing this offseason -- changes that he describes as "extreme," "the complete opposite" and "reinventing himself" -- make my fight a little bit easier.

Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters outfielder Bryce Harper (thumb) will play three innings in his first rehab game with Class A Potomac Monday. He will then progress to five innings Tuesday before resting Wednesday.

Harper could then play three consecutive games after Wednesday's off-day. Williams added Harper is expected to see time at all three outfield positions on his rehab assignment.

With Bryce Harper getting closer to returning from a thumb injury, Nationals manager Matt Williams announced Ryan Zimmerman will be returning to third base upon Harper's activation off the disabled list and Anthony Rendon will move to second base, per MLB.com.

Although Zimmerman is happy to oblige his manager, he said Sunday he prefers to stay in left field and have Rendon continue to play at third base.

"Going out to left field, gave us the best chance to win. It’s a good problem to have. Too many good players and not enough spots," Zimmerman said. "I’ll see what happens. I’m pretty comfortable in left and I think Anthony is a hell of a third baseman. I think there is no doubt right now he is better over there than me. But you have to have your best players in the lineup somehow. Whatever [manager] Matt [Williams] needs me to do, that’s what I’ll do."

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez has a 12-game hitting streak after going 1 for 4 with a two-run double and a run scored Sunday. Martinez has 13 RBI during the streak, which has upped his average to .310/.344/.593 in 113 at-bats.

Although Torii Hunter is expected back from his hamstring injury Tuesday when the Tigers visit Texas, manager Brad Ausmus isn't likely to sit Martinez.

"I don’t see how I can take him out of the lineup,” Ausmus told MLB.com, "unless he tells me he doesn’t want to play or can’t play."

The website said Hunter's return could cost Rajai Davis and Austin Jackson playing time.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is taking ground balls Sunday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Belt is hoping to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon. He's attempting to come back after thumb surgery. Belt was hitting .264, with nine home runs, prior to the injury.

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler, who has been out of action for Double-A Tennessee since late May due to a hamstring injury, began a rehab assignment with the Arizona League (rookie) Cubs Saturday. Soler went 3 for 5 with one run, two doubles, two RBI and two strikeouts.