MLB Player News

Stanton (hamstring) ran the bases at Yankee Stadium before Friday's game, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

It would appear to be the first time he has run the bases since going down with a left hamstring strain nearly a month ago. Stanton did not look to be running at 100 percent, but it's nonetheless a big step and signifies that a return to game action could be close. The Yankees have not yet indicated whether Stanton will require a rehab assignment before being activated.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The Cubs are sending southpaw Justin Steele to the hill, so the left-handed hitting Pederson will begin the first game of the second half on the bench. Randal Grichuk will handle designated hitter duties.

Triple-A Iowa placed Mervis on its 7-day injured list July 4 with an apparent hand injury, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports.

The Triple-A club hasn't provided official word on the nature of Mervis' injury, though Birch notes that the first baseman is suspected to be dealing with a broken hamate bone. Since being optioned to Iowa on May 4 after an abbreviated stint with the Cubs, Mervis was slashing .215/.286/.424 with eight home runs and a 26.7-percent strikeout rate over 37 games.

Manager Aaron Boone said that Stanton (hamstring) won't be reinstated from the 10-day injured list when the Yankees open their second-half schedule Friday versus the Rays, but the 34-year-old could be activated soon thereafter, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Additionally, the skipper said that the Yankees remain undecided on whether will need to complete a minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the IL. Stanton was placed on the IL on June 23 with a left hamstring strain and was projected to miss around four weeks, and that timeline still looks to be accurate now that he's hit the three-week mark in his recovery process. Stanton will continue his rehab program during the All-Star break and could bypass a rehab assignment if the Yankees feel comfortable with how his hamstring is responding to live batting practice and pregame running. Fantasy managers shouldn't plan on Stanton being available for the start of the four-game series with the Rays, but a return from the IL the week after looks realistic.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

As usual, the lefty-hitting Pederson will retreat to the bench while the Blue Jays bring a southpaw (Yusei Kikuchi) to the hill. Ketel Marte will replace Pederson as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter.

Turner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The 39-year-old will get a break in the series finale after he had started in each of the last six games while going just 1-for-24 with nine strikeouts. George Springer will get a day out of the outfield and will replace Turner as the Blue Jays' designated hitter.

Calhoun will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Calhoun is back in the lineup for the Angels' final game before the All-Star break, but he had started just once in the Halos' previous six matchups against right-handed starting pitchers. The recent return of Anthony Rendon from the injured list appears to have spelled an end to Calhoun's time as a strong-side platoon player for the Angels, even after he starred in Friday's 6-5 win with two home runs and four RBI.

Larnach is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

With southpaw Blake Snell on the hill for the Giants, the lefty-hitting Larnach will retreat to the bench for the series finale. Matt Wallner will replace Larnach in left field and will bat ninth.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

The right-handed-hitting Ramirez drew the start at designated hitter in Saturday's 6-5 win while the Brewers brought lefty Dallas Keuchel to the hill, but Ramirez will hit the bench for Sunday's series finale. Ramirez, who owns a .576 OPS since being promoted from Triple-A Rochester on June 24, should continue to serve as a short-side platoon player for the Nationals.

McCutchen (hamstring) will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter and leadoff batter in Sunday's game against the White Sox.

McCutchen will return to the lineup after he was removed in the ninth inning of Saturday's 6-2 win with what the Pirates labeled as left hamstring discomfort. Even though the Pirates could have kept McCutchen out of the lineup in their final game before the All-Star break to give the veteran some extended time to rest up, he'll be ready to go Sunday, which suggests his removal from Saturday's contest was precautionary.