MLB Player News

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Bryce Harper's X-rays came back negative, and he's being listed as day to day with a bruised left shoulder and left knee, according to The Washington Post. Harper needed 11 stitches to his chin and neck Monday night after slamming into the right-field wall at Dodgers Stadium trying to track down a fly ball.

"Will be sore but fine. Day to day," Rizzo said.

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter reached base three times Monday against the Mets. 

Carpenter hit two singles and walked during the game. He scored and drove in two runs. Carpenter is hitting .294/.373/.449 in 136 at-bats. Jon Jay had a brief run in the leadoff spot, but the team has gone back to Carpenter recently, so he should continue to get a lot of at-bats. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper received 11 stitches on his chin and neck but did not suffer a concussion, according to his agent Scott Boras. Harper also jammed his left shoulder when he collided face first with the scoreboard on the right-field wall trying to track down a fly ball off the bat of A.J. Ellis.

Harper stayed on the ground for several minutes but was eventually able to walk off the field under his own power despite having blood running down his chin and neck.

He is scheduled to undergo X-rays but there has been no timetable announced for his return.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was forced to leave Monday's series opener against the Dodgers in the fifth inning after crashing into the scoreboard on the right field wall. Harper was trying to track down a fly ball off the bat of A.J. Ellis and crashed face first into the wall.

Harper was able to walk off the field under his own power despite having blood running down his chin and neck.

He went 1 for 1 with a pair of walks and runs scored prior to leaving the contest.

Astros manager Bo Porter said J.D. Martinez, Robbie Grossman and Jimmy Paredes will be the team's regular three starters in the outfield, MLB.com reports. Porter had been rotating Trevor Crowe and Brandon Barnes in the outfield over the past few weeks.

"They're going to get the bulk of the playing time," Porter said, "so that I, as a manager, can make a definitive decision as a manager to answer the question: Can this guy or can that guy play every day at the Major League level?"

Giants first basemen Brandon Belt hit his fourth home run Sunday against the Braves. Belt's solo shot came off starter Kris Medlen in the second inning.

He finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs in the 5-1 win.

Belt has hit safely in five of the last six games and is batting .333 (6 for 18) with a home run, two doubles and four RBI over that span.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon finished 2 for 4 with a home run during his season debut -- an 8-2 victory over St. Louis Sunday. After being called up earlier in the day to replace Michael Cuddyer, Blackmon batted eighth and had a two-run shot off Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia in the sixth inning -- his first MLB homer since Sept. 26 against the Cubs.

"I like to get guys involved right away when they get here," manager Walt Weiss told MLB.com. "Charlie's been doing a great job. He handles left-handers really well. He's been stringing together a lot of good at-bats down there in Colorado Springs. He runs well. He brings some things. Hopefully he can be something that helps jump-start us."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 2 for 4 in a victory Sunday against Detroit.

Brantley had a run, RBI and a walk. His two hits were singles. He has lacked power this year, with a .388 slugging percentage, but his .306 average and .365 on-base percentage have set the table for the rest off the Indians' lineup.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 0 for 2 with two walks during his return to the lineup, a 2-1 loss to the Cubs Sunday. He failed to get a hit for the third time in his past four outings, and his batting average dropped below .300 for the first time this season.

Harper was able to end a six-game stretch with at least a strikeout as he drew two walks for the first time since April 11 against the White Sox.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper returned to the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs following a two-game absence because of a toe issue. Harper, who had an ingrown right toenail removed Friday, has whiffed at least once in the past six games as his average has dipped to a season-low .302.