MLB Player News

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen filled up the stat sheet in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Marlins, going 2 for 3 with one walk, one solo home run and one stolen base. It was McCutchen's fifth straight two-hit performance, a streak over which he's hit three doubles and scored five times.

McCutchen owns a .312/.384/.511 line with 16 home runs, 65 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 417 at-bats and is firmly in the mix for the NL MVP Award.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf failed to reach base Wednesday against the Cubs, the first time he has been held off base dating back to last season.

Ruf went 0 for 4 in a 5-2 loss, while striking out twice, ending a 33-game on-base streak that was the longest in the majors. Ruf's average fell to .294, while his on-base percentage stands at .400 in 85 at-bats. 

I'm with colleague Nando Di Fino in declaring the Phillies' Darin Ruf one of the more underowned hitters in Fantasy.

Granted, most 27-year-olds who hit .266 with seven home runs in 305 at-bats at Triple-A prior to a midseason promotion aren't so deserving of a second look. But last year, Ruf led all minor-leaguers with 38 home runs, and he did it at Double-A, which is usually a tougher adjustment than Triple-A. Maybe losing the battle for the starting left field job in spring training put him in a funk. Since arriving in the big leagues July 6, he has looked much more like the player who compiled a .299 batting and .380 on-base percentage over five minor-league, reaching base in all 24 of the games he's played so far.

But his greatest attribute is power. The 400-foot shots come so effortlessly for him. He has two already, including one against Kris Medlen over the weekend that would have left all 30 ballparks. He also has two home runs of more reasonable distance, giving him four in 81 at-bats.

And I predict more to come, making Ruf an ideal waiver claim for all those owners who lost Nelson Cruz to the Biogenesis suspensions.

With his home run Tuesday, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper passed Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs before age-21.

With 39 home runs already, Harper only trails Mel Ott and Tony Conigliaro. Harper will turn 21 in October, but would have to hit 17 home runs to tie Conigliaro, which doesn't seem likely. Still, passing Griffey in any category is a pretty high honor for a 20-year-old. 

Harper is hitting .271/.365/.526 in 266 at-bats. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen extended a handful of minor streaks Tuesday, as he continued to swing a hot bat in a 4-3 win over the Marlins.

McCutchen picked up his fourth multi-hit game in a row by going 2 for 3, while adding a pair of RBI, his fourth game in a row with at least one. McCutchen also walked once in the win, the third straight game he has done so.

McCutchen has been on fire in August, batting .600 with five RBI, four walks, four runs scored and three doubles in five games. He is hitting .309 on the season with an .884 OPS. 

Phillies first baseman Darin Ruf has been as good as advertised so far this season, hitting .299 with three home runs and a .907 OPS through 23 games. And with Ryan Howard's return still far off -- if he comes back at all -- Ruf looks to have the starting first base job locked up for essentially the rest of the season. 

Ruf hit .317 with 38 home runs in Double-A last year. He had three straight seasons of 30 or more doubles heading into 2013, and had an .882 OPS over five minor league seasons. He strikes out a decent amount, but nothing egregious for a power hitter. And he's sporting a cool .413 OBP so far this season. 

While it's understandable to expect a rookie hitter to see a drop-off after a big start like this, Ruf could still finish 2013 with a .280 average and double-digit home runs. He's worth an add in most 12-team Roto formats as a corner infielder. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt managed three singles, two runs and one walk Monday against the Brewers. It was the second time in four games Belt managed three hits.

Despite his recent three-hit games, Belt is batting .241 (7 for 29) with one triple, one home run, three RBI, five runs and six RBI in his last 11 games (eight starts).

After netting two singles Sunday against the Braves, Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf has reached base 32 straight games dating back to last year, which is the longest active streak in the majors, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. It's also the longest streak by a Phillies' hitter since Chase Utley reached base safely in 33 straight games from Sept. 7, 2008 to April 22, 2009.

"I love his swing," manager Charlie Manuel said of Ruf. "I like the way the ball jumps off his bat. His home run the other night was on the inside of the plate and he hit it nice and easy. Nice and easy. The power is there."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was hitless in four at-bats Sunday against the Indians, striking out twice. He's fallen into a 1-for-20 slump in his last six games.

"It seems like he’s got hot but just hasn’t been able to sustain it," manager Mike Redmond said, per The Miami Herald. "The times he’s gotten into some funks, they’ve been some sustained funks for more than three or four games. Obviously, we need him, when he hits, he changes our lineup."

Stanton, who hit .462 with three home runs, six doubles and six RBI in an eight-game stretch prior to his recent six-game slide, doesn't seem to concerned about his recent struggles.

"That’s how it’s been all year," Stanton said. "You have your ups and downs. You just got to overcome somehow, eventually."

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 with one RBI, one walk and one run during Sunday's 5-1 win against the Rockies. McCutchen is batting .368 (14 for 38) with one triple, one home run, three doubles and seven RBI in his last 11 games.

McCutchen has six two-hit games in his last 11 outings.