MLB Player News

Blackmon isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Blackmon will get a breather after he went hitless in three at-bats during the first game of the twin bill. Yonathan Daza will start in right field and bat sixth.

Ruf (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ruf went 2-for-3 with a pair of base hits before he was removed from Wednesday's 5-4 win with an apparent right hamstring injury. Jason Vosler came on to replace Ruf and supplied a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning to lift the Giants to victory. With all of Brandon Belt (oblique), Wilmer Flores (hamstring) and Tommy La Stella (hamstring) on the injured list, Ruf will likely be in line for steady reps at first base if his own hamstring issue doesn't prove to be too significant. The Giants should have a better idea of Ruf's recovery timeline once the results of the MRI are read.

McCutchen will sit Thursday against the Marlins.

McCutchen will rest for the second time in three days. The veteran outfielder was showing signs of life in early May following a slow start but has since gone on to hit just .151/.294/.321 over his last 15 games. Roman Quinn will lead off and play left field in his absence.

Pederson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

With a southpaw (Tyler Anderson) on the hill for the Pirates, the lefty-hitting Pederson will check out of the starting nine for the series finale. Rafael Ortega will fill in for Pederson in left field.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Cleveland.

Cabrera takes a seat for the day game after he was in the Detroit lineup for each of the past five games, during which he went 4-for-19. The two-time American League MVP is sitting on a career-worst .592 OPS for the season, but the Tigers are unlikely to consider removing him from his everyday role while he remains on the books through 2023. Willi Castro will serve as the Tigers' designated hitter Thursday while Cabrera rests.

Ruf was removed from Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks with an apparent right hamstring injury, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 34-year-old suffered the injury while rounding first base on a single during the sixth inning, and he was immediately replaced by a pinch runner. It would be a tough break for Ruf should he be forced to miss any time since he was poised to fill in at first base with Brandon Belt (oblique) on the injured list.

Belt was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a mild left oblique strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Belt is expected to miss 10-14 days with the oblique injury. The first baseman has struggled with a .228 average this season, but his defense and veteran presence will certainly be missed while he recovers. Jason Vosler was recalled to fill Belt's spot on the active roster.

Belt (side) is not in the lineup Wednesday at Arizona, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The Giants were considering sending the 33-year-old for an MRI after left side discomfort resurfaced during Tuesday's contest, so it's hardly a surprise he's out of Wednesday's lineup. Belt should be considered day-to-day for now, but he could be forced to miss some time after missing six consecutive games due to the injury last week.

Brantley (leg) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brantley will sit for the second game in a row due to the leg injury, though manager Dusty Baker said the veteran isn't a candidate to land on the injured list as a result of the issue, according to Rome. Aledmys Diaz will pick up a start in left field in place of Brantley, who will get another day of rest Thursday with a team off day before the Astros return to action Friday against the Padres in Houston.

Alvarez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup versus the Dodgers with right wrist soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old was penciled in to bat cleanup as the designated hitter, but he'll instead hit the bench due to the wrist issue. Alvarez is 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts over his past four contests, so the injury could help explain some of his struggles at the plate. He'll have Wednesday plus Thursday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery before potentially missing any additional games.