MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was pulled for a pinch runner in Sunday's game against Philadelphia due to a knee injury, MASN reports.

Harper limped down to first base after a seventh-inning walk on the same left knee that has been bothering him of late. It doesn't look good for his chances to play Monday. Consider him day to day.

After managing just two multi-hit games in his first 14 appearances, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has totaled 16 multi-hit games in his last 33 appearances, including five of his last seven games heading into Sunday against the Red Sox.

Brantley's batting average has gone from .240 to .316 in his last 33 games thanks to a .346 average in that span.

"He's got a really pretty swing," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "He's got a swing that doesn't need a lot of maintenance. By that, I mean there's not a lot of moving parts. As you get more at-bats and more experience and know the league, it wouldn't shock me if he hits for more power."

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (back) returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Belt singled in the second and drew a walk in the ninth as he finished 1 for 3 in a 5-0 defeat.

Belt is hitting .300 (6 for 20) with one home run and one RBI in his last six games. He has a .253/.323/.432 slash line in 146 at-bats.

The Phillies had an open roster spot with Chase Utley on the disabled list Thursday, but a poorly timed slump cost Darin Ruf a chance to get back to the majors. Ruf is hitting .103 over the last seven games heading into play Friday.

The fact that Ruf can only play in the outfield or first base also hurt his chances.

"I think the better fit was someone who could play all over the field," assistant GM Scott Proefrock told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We’ve got two (interleague) games. It would be hard to find (Ruf) a place to play, and it probably wouldn’t be the right fit."

Ruf has a .772 on-base plus slugging percent at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with a .262 batting average, a career-worst mark. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the starting lineup as expected Friday against the Rockies. Belt was held out of the starting lineup for the team's previous game Wednesday against the Nationals but appeared later in the game as a pinch-hitter. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera continued his torrid pace Thursday, homering for the fourth straight game. He has six home runs and 13 RBI over his last four games while going 9 for 15 with five walks.

Cabrera's .391 batting average and .701 slugging percentage lead all major-league players, and his .467 on-base percentage ranks second to Joey Votto. He's been hitless just twice in his last 34 games. He's the early favorite for 2013 AL MVP.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen put together his fifth multi-hit game in the last six Thursday against the Cubs as he continues to pound the ball.

McCutchen went 3 for 4 with two runs driven in and one run scored, in a 4-2 win. All three of his hits were singles, but he added a pair of stolen bases, giving him 12 on the season on 13 attempts.

McCutchen has batting .462 over the last six days, raising his batting average from .260 to .291. 

With a .304 batting average in his first 79 at-bats, the Marlins have to be pleased with Marcell Ozuna's first month in the majors. Even with a potentially crowded outfield in the next few weeks, the Marlins seem committed to keeping the 22-year-old in the majors as long as he can hack it, regardless of any arbitration-related issues.

"If [Ozuna] wants to make the decision difficult for us, have at it," 'President of Baseball Operations  Larry Beinfest told the Sun-Sentinel Thursday. "If you're productive and doing the job, I don't see any reason why people can't stay. Now, people are going to say, 'Well, he's going to be Super Two.' Sure, we look at all that. I'm not going to say we don't because it matters. The other 29 teams do as well. If a player is doing it, he's going to make the decision tough for you.

Ozuna is currently playing right field, the position that injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton will fill when he gets healthy. With top prospect Christian Yelich pushing for a promotion from Double-A Jacksonville, the Marlins will have a crowded outfield on their hands sometime in June. According to two scouts, the Marlins' best defensive alignment in the outfield would include Ozuna in center field, a position he has yet to man in the majors after 38 games in the minors. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley extended his RBI streak to four games Wednesday against the Tigers, totaling three RBI as he finished 3 for 5 with one run. Brantley has nine RBI in his last four games, while batting .438 (7 for 16) during that span.

Brantley is having a productive May, batting .338 (25 for 74) with a home run, a double, 10 runs and 15 RBI in 21 games (18 starts).

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez has been thriving at the plate since being named the everyday left fielder. Martinez is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs, four doubles and seven RBI in his last nine games (eight starts).

"I'm feeling good," he said, per MLB.com. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, not just (Wednesday) but the last couple of series. I feel like I'm going up there with my plan and approach and I'm not changing it within my at-bat and constantly changing plans like I feel like I have in the past."