MLB Player News

Harper went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and two RBI in an 11-3 loss Sunday in Miami.

Harper singled in the third, hit a solo home run in the fifth and added a RBI double in the seventh. After starting the season 1-for-14, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player is 7-for-23 with five extra-base hits over his last six contests. Sunday was the second time he appeared as the designated hitter this season. Nick Castellanos started in right field in his stead.

Blackmon is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The Rockies' matchup with a lefty starter (Drew Smyly) coupled with the early start for Sunday's series finale (3:10 p.m. ET) were likely factors in the lefty-hitting Blackmon getting his second day off of the season. With Blackmon taking a seat, Yonathan Daza will check into an outfield that also includes Randal Grichuk and Connor Joe.

Alvarez (illness) said he expects to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list to play Monday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been sidelined the past few days due to the COVID-19 protocols, but he rejoined the team Saturday and should be back on the field for Monday's contest. The 24-year-old reportedly dealt with a fever four consecutive days, though he's now apparently recovered and on the cusp of returning to action.

Miller (back) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Miller was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to back tightness and will remain on the bench for Sunday's series finale. Left-hander Jose Suarez is pitching for the Halos, so the veteran infielder may not have been in the starting nine regardless of the injury. Miller will now have Monday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing more time. Nick Solak will start again in left field.

Beer is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.

With southpaw David Peterson on the hill for New York, the lefty-hitting Beer will take a seat following two straight starts over which he went 4-for-7 with a double and a walk. Carson Kelly will serve as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter in Beer's stead.

Solak started in left field in place of the injured Brad Miller (back) and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Angels.

Miller was a late scratch from the lineup, giving Solak an opportunity against right-handed starter Noah Syndergaard. With left-hander Jose Suarez on the bump Sunday for the Angels, Solak is expected to get another opportunity regardless of Miller's status. Solak is 4-for-14 (.286) with five runs, one home run and one RBI through five games.

Beer went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Mets.

The Diamondbacks had a season-high nine hits Saturday led by by Beer's troika of knocks. Despite being the team's leading hitter (.400 batting average), the lefty-swinging Beer is limited to starts against right-handers. As such, he's not in the lineup Sunday against New York southpaw David Peterson. Beer batted .278 over 97 at-bats against lefties in 2021 while a member of Triple-A Reno.

Belt went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over Cleveland.

Belt recorded his fourth multi-hit performance of the campaign and made his presence felt in the fifth inning, when his single to center brought both Thairo Estrada and Steven Duggar home. The veteran first baseman also scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth following an RBI groundout from Wilmer Flores. Belt has not been facing lefties regularly this season but is making the most of his playing opportunities so far, as he's hitting .375 (9-for-24) in 2022.

Harper went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored, two walks and a stolen base in Saturday's win over the Marlins.

It's not a secret that this hasn't been a good start to the season for the star outfielder, though this was clearly his best all-around performance of the campaign to date. Harper has yet to record more than one hit in a single game through nine contests in 2022, but he has six RBI, two extra-base hits, three runs scored and a 4:3 BB:K over his last four games, so he seems to be trending in the right direction.

Buxton (knee) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

Though Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the right knee injury Buxton sustained in Friday's series opener will likely keep the outfielder out for around a week, the Twins have thus far resisted moving the 28-year-old to the injured list. Buxton will remain out Sunday and isn't expected to play in Monday's series finale either, but the Twins plan to have him travel to Kansas City for the team's upcoming series that runs Tuesday through Thursday. Buxton sounds like he could be ready to return to the lineup at some point during the series with the Royals, provided he incurs no setbacks in his recovery from the knee issue. Nick Gordon will spell Buxton in center field Sunday.