MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt left Friday's game against the Dodgers with a broken left thumb, which will land him on the disabled list, according to the Mercury News.

Belt left the game in the second inning after being hit by a pitch in his first at-bat. He was replaced by Joaquin Arias at first base. Belt entered Friday with a .264/.317/.504 slash line with nine homers and 18 RBI in 129 at-bats.

Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler performed well in his first game back from a hamstring injury.

Soler went 2 for 2, with a double and two RBI. He walked in his other two plate appearances. Soler scored one run during the game. He's only played in two games at Double-A due to the injury.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continued to punish baseballs Thursday against the Padres.

Stanton belted his league-leading 11th home run during the game. Stanton was actually held in check throughout most of the game. He struck out and grounded out in his first two at-bats. After walking in his third plate appearance, Stanton popped out his fourth time up.

With the team tied in the top of the 11th, Stanton stepped to the plate against Dale Thayer. On the third pitch of the at-bat, he took a 93 mph fastball out to center for a two-run shot. The Marlins would retain the lead, and eventually win the game.

Stanton is now hitting .294, with 11 home runs, in 136 at-bats.

The Marlins have yet to give Giancarlo Stanton a day off this season, and who can blame them. The hulking slugger leads the National League with 10 home runs and 38 RBI entering play Thursday against the Padres.

The team is in the midst of a 20-games-in-20-days stretch, however, and manager Mike Redmond is expected to give him a day off at some point, according to MLB.com.

Stanton is hitting .295/.383/.590 in 134 at-bats, ranking third in the NL in OPS, as well as fifth in runs scored at 25.  

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf began his minor-league rehab assignment Thursday for Class A Clearwater, as he continues to recover from a left oblique strain.

Ruf went 0 for 3 in the game with a walk and a strikeout, but made it through all nine innings without incident. Manager Ryne Sandberg told MLB.com Thursday he is a candidate to start in right field when he comes off the disabled list, with Marlon Byrd possibly moving to center. 

The only consistently productive hitter for the Indians this season remained productive Thursday against Minnesota.

Left fielder Michael Brantley slugged three more hits, including his sixth home run in the fifth, and added a double in raising his average to .289. His 29 RBI is third in the American League.

Brantley has fanned just 10 times in 128 at-bats.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter is working to refine his fielding, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Carpenter took part in extra reps prior to Wednesday's game. He worked with assistant hitting coach, and former third baseman, David Bell, and infield coach Jose Oquendo. Despite moving back to his natural position during the offseason, Carpenter has dealt with some defensive struggles early. Oquendo is quick to point out that though third is his natural spot, Carpenter did not play the position much last year. 

Manager Mike Matheny also hinted at Carpenter's lack of comfort transitioning to his play in the batter's box. "I don’t think you can take that out of the equation either," Matheny said. "Meanwhile, he’s still trying to get a little more comfortable offensively, too."

Through 132 at-bats, Carpenter has hit .288, with one home run.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run in his team's 3-2 win over the Astros Wednesday.

Cabrera hasn't quite been the MVP-caliber hitter of years past this season, but he now has home runs in back-to-back games as well as a few weeks of excellent hitting after seeing his average sink as low as .206 in mid-April. Cabrera has hit .292/.336/.483 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 120 at-bats.

First baseman Brandon Belt was pretty much the entire offense for the Giants in their Wednesday afternoon loss in Pittsburgh.

Belt gave his team its only lead with a homer in the first inning, then closed its deficit to 4-3 with a two-run double in the fifth. He has nine home runs this season with just 17 RBI.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Clearwater Thursday. He has been sidelined all season.