MLB Player News

Belt was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres due to right knee discomfort, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt had his right knee drained Friday, and he'll ultimately be held out of the lineup for a second straight game. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench Saturday, but he should tentatively be considered day-to-day. Wilmer Flores was added to the lineup as the designated hitter.

Harper (elbow) is starting Saturday against the Dodgers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Harper received a PRP injection last weekend to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow and was initially expected to be out of the lineup for 1-2 games, but he was ultimately sidelined for five straight matchups. However, he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat third Saturday. Over the six games prior to his absence, the 29-year-old hit .609 with three homers, six doubles, eight runs, eight RBI and three stolen bases.

Canha isn't starting in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rockies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Canha started in the last three games and went 4-for-12 with a homer, five runs, two RBI, two walks and two strikeouts. Jeff McNeil will shift to left field while Luis Guillorme starts at second base in the matinee.

Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a run, a walk, a stolen base and three strikeouts in Friday's loss to Oakland.

It was a frustrating night for the two-way star, as he fanned multiple times for the fourth straight game. However, Ohtani provided some fantasy value with a first-inning walk that was followed by a stolen base, and subsequently turned into a run. Over his past four games, Ohtani has gone 2-for-17 with 10 strikeouts.

Morel is starting in center field and batting seventh in Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Morel homered Friday, so the Cubs will reward him with his fourth straight start. The 22-year-old is off to a hot start in his MLB career with two home runs and a 1.371 OPS through 11 at-bats. Those numbers are unsustainable, but fantasy managers may want to give Morel a look in the short term while he's this locked in at the plate.

Ruf went 2-for-3 with two home runs, two walks, three runs and three RBI in an 8-7 loss to San Diego on Friday.

Picking up the start with lefty Sean Manaea on the mound, Ruf was the driving force in San Francisco's lineup with a two-run home run in the third, a solo shot in the fifth and two walks later in the game. After a sluggish April during which the 35-year-old batted .177, Ruf is slashing .378/.508/.644 in 45 May at-bats with three home runs and 12 walks compared to only 10 strikeouts.

Soler went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta.

His sixth-inning shot off Charlie Morton wrapped up the scoring on the night for the Marlins. Soler has eight homers on the season, but six of them have come in May. Through 16 games on the month, he's slashing .246/.313/.574 with 14 RBI.

Ozuna went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-3 win over the Marlins.

He staked Atlanta to a 3-0 lead by taking Trevor Rogers deep in the first inning. Ozuna has gone yard in three straight games and four of the last six as part of a seven-game hitting streak, but the surge has only boosted his slash line on the year to .224/.268/.414 as he pulls himself out of a deep early season hole.

Belt isn't starting Friday against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt started in the last eight matchups but will get a breather after he went 1-for-17 with a run, a walk and seven strikeouts over the last four games. Wilmer Flores will shift to first base while Thairo Estrada enters the lineup at the keystone.

Pederson isn't starting Friday against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Pederson has operated in the strong side of a platoon this year, and he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight game since left-hander Sean Manaea is on the mound Friday. Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Luis Gonzalez are starting in the outfield from left to right.