MLB Player News

Vogelbach went 1-for-3 with two walks and a solo home run Wednesday against the Nationals.

Vogelbach took Paolo Espino yard in the fourth inning to record his 10th home run of the season. It was his third homer in his last 11 games, and he's also tallied seven RBI and eight runs scored in that span. Vogelbach has been locked into the designated hitter role against right-handed pitching, though the Pirates lineup remains fluid so he'll likely need to keep hitting to retain consistent playing time.

Morel went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Reds.

Morel came into Wednesday batting just .182 over his previous 10 games, and he dropped to ninth in the order as a result. However, the rookie showcased his abilities in this contest, recording his sixth home run of the season through 39 games. Morel has also stolen seven bases, giving him an intriguing mix of power and speed potential. The 23-year-old should remain a decent fantasy asset as long as he keeps seeing regular playing time.

Stanton went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run during Wednesday's 5-3 win against the A's.

Stanton's three-run shot during the third inning was the difference in the game, as it turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead for New York. The 32-year-old had a cold stretch in the middle of June during which he went 1-for-26, but he's recently found his power stroke with five home runs and 10 RBI in his past six contests.

Soler was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Cardinals due to back discomfort, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Soler was slated to start in left field and bat third, but he was removed from the lineup shortly before first pitch. The 30-year-old has apparently played through the back issue of late, and he'll head to the bench Wednesday ahead of Miami's scheduled day off Thursday. Bryan De La Cruz will man left field in his place.

Harper underwent surgery to repair his fractured left thumb Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The 6-to-8 week timetable lines up with a previous report which indicated Harper could return in mid-August. Harper is already on the 10-day injured list after suffering the injury over the weekend, and it'll likely be a couple weeks before he can resume baseball activities. The 29-year-old was limited to serving as the designated hitter since mid-April due to a small tear in the UCL of his right elbow, and he'll now have some time to perhaps heal up from that injury.

Alvarez is being evaluated for a concussion after exiting Wednesday's game against the Mets, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 25-year-old was involved in a collision in left field Wednesday and was struck in the face by Jeremy Pena's arm. Alvarez remained down for several minutes after the incident but was able to walk to the cart that took him off the field. He'll travel with the team back to Houston, but his availability for the weekend series against the Yankees will depend on whether he's ultimately diagnosed with a concussion.

Buxton isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Buxton started in four of the last five games and went 6-for-18 with a homer, two triples, a double, five runs and three RBI during that time. He'll get a breather while Gilberto Celestino starts in center field and bats ninth.

Turner isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Turner will get a day off after he went 3-for-17 with three RBI, a run, a stolen base, two walks and four strikeouts over the last five games. Max Muncy is serving as the designated hitter while Eddy Alvarez starts at third base.

Alvarez was removed in the eighth inning of Wednesday's game against the Mets after he was involved in a collision with teammate Jeremy Pena in the outfield, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. He went 0-for-3 with a walk before departing the contest.

Alvarez appeared to absorb the brunt of the collision with Pena, who was also removed from the game but was able to walk off the field under his own power. Meanwhile, the Astros called out a cart for Alvarez, who was also able to stand up and walk to the vehicle before he was driven to the locker room. The exact nature and severity of the injuries to Alvarez and Pena aren't immediately clear, but manager Dusty Baker should have an update on both players' situations following the game.

The Giants optioned Mercedes to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Mercedes was moved off the 26-man active roster to clear room for outfielder LaMonte Wade (knee), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. After being claimed off waivers from the White Sox on July 18 and joining the big club about a week later, Mercedes appeared in two games for the Giants and went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.