MLB Player News

Pederson isn't starting Friday's game against the Cubs.

Pederson will get a breather with left-hander Drew Smyly starting for the Cubs on Friday. Austin Dean is starting in left field and batting eighth.

Harper is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Nationals.

Harper will sit on the bench Friday as the Nationals will begin the game with lefty Patrick Corbin on the mound. Alec Bohm will take over as Washington's designated hitter, causing Edmundo Sosa to pick up a start at third base.

Jimenez went 1-for-5 with a walk, a two-run home run and two runs scored Thursday against the Athletics.

Jimenez delivered his 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning. He's homered in two of his last three games -- also picking up five RBI and four runs scored -- and has gone deep five times in 15 contests since Aug. 23. Though he's been on the field inconsistently, Jimenez has maintained an excellent .302/.372/.488 line across 242 plate appearances on the campaign.

Stanton (foot) went 0-for-1 with a strikeout as a pinch hitter in Thursday's game against the Twins.

Manager Aaron Boone was unsure if Stanton would be able to return to the lineup Friday against the Rays, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports. Miguel Andujar got the nod at designated hitter Thursday.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a 4-2 loss to the Brewers in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader.

Pederson started both contests after sitting for four straight games when the Giants faced a run of left-handed pitchers. He went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the matinee before delivering a solo shot in the eighth inning of the nightcap. The slugger has gone 14-for-34 (.412) over his last 13 games, but he's mainly been confined to the strong side of a platoon in left field. For the year, he's slashing .265/.345/.522 with 22 homers, 62 RBI, 48 runs scored and three stolen bases through 368 plate appearances.

Buxton (hip) has not started baseball activities, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "We're still kind of at the beginning phases of getting him moving and activating different parts of his lower half and getting back to some baseball activity," said manager Rocco Baldelli. "We're not quite there yet."

Buxton was placed on the injured list Aug. 23 with a low-grade right hip strain, and it was thought initially he may travel with the Twins during the current road trip for a potential activation. However, now it sounds as though the team will be lucky to see him return in September.

McCutchen isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants.

McCutchen started Thursday's matinee and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Rowdy Tellez will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth during the second game of the twin bill.

Stanton (foot) isn't starting Thursday against the Twins.

Stanton was sidelined for both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins and will remain out of the lineup for Thursday's series finale. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Miguel Andujar will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth.

Winker went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in a loss to the White Sox on Wednesday before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was an increasingly rare productive offensive night for Winker, who'd been mired in a 1-for-22 slump over the seven games prior to Wednesday. The offseason addition is trudging through his poorest season at the plate by far in his big-league career, as his .222 average and .352 slugging percentage are both low-water marks. However, Winker has been able to salvage matters to an extent with a .344 on-base percentage that's largely the byproduct of a career-high 15.5 percent walk rate, and he's also been undeniably held back by a .252 BABIP.

Morel isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Reds.

Morel started the last three games and went 3-for-9 with a double, two RBI, a walk and three strikeouts. David Bote will take over at the hot corner and bat ninth.