MLB Player News

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter just missed hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning Sunday against the Reds. Instead, he produced a two-RBI double with his hit off the top of the right field wall. 

Carpenter finished 2 for 5 with one walk and two runs Sunday. Carpenter entered the game mired in a 1-for-31 slump in his last eight contests and had his first multi-RBI game in 15 appearances.

Marlins outfielderMarcell Ozuna's season is over after undergoing surgery on his left thumb, but that does not mean he won't play again until next season. Ozuna told MLB.com Saturday he is going to make up for lost time in the Dominican Winter League.

"I'm playing winter ball so I can get ready for next season and Spring Training," Ozuna said. "Then, I can make the team."

Ozuna finished his rookie season batting .265 with three home runs and 32 RBI in 275 at-bats. He will likely battle for a starting spot next season. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was back in the lineup Friday against the Brewers, despite suffering a hip injury in his previous game. Harper made an impact, going 2 for 5 with a home run, his 16th of the season, in a 4-1 win. He drove in two runs and scored one more.

Harper is hitting .279 with a .910 OPS on the season.  

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is back in the starting lineup for the first time since Sunday, CSN San Francisco reports.

Belt has been replaced by Brett Pill for the past three games. Belt's season OPS peaked at .790 on July 21, but he's been terrible since: 2 for 22 (.091), eight strikeouts, four walks, and no extra-base hits. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is starting in left field and leading off Friday against Milwaukee despite tweaking his hip in Wednesday's game, MASN reports.

Harper was forced to leave Wednesday's game but said he felt fine afterwards. It does not appear the injury will have any long-term effects. Harper is hitting .276 with 15 home runs this season.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper expects to play Friday after tweaking his hip during Wednesday's game, according to NatsInsider.com.

Harper was removed in the bottom of eighth, but expressed a desire to return as soon as possible. Harper said he "felt fine" after the game. His manager, Davey Johnson, agreed, saying, "I think he'll be alright." 

Harper is hitting .276/.372/.528 in 246 at-bats. He missed time earlier this year with a knee injury.

Though they received a number of frantic calls prior to the deadline, the Marlins never seriously considered any trades for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, reports the Miami Herald Wednesday.

"No player names were ever exchanged (for Stanton)," an anonymous source with knowledge of the team's plans said.

The Marlins' final trade before the non-waiver deadline Wednesday came July 6, when they shipped Ricky Nolasco to Los Angeles. According to the report, the Marlins never listened to any offers for Stanton, who is hitting .256 with an .866 OPS on the season. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was forced to leave Wednesday's game against the Tigers in the eighth inning with a hip spasm. Harper went 2 for 4 in the game before exiting an 11-1 loss.

The extent of the injury is not yet known, but he did play through it for a few innings before departing the game. He is considered day to day for now. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton remained with the team Wednesday as the non-waiver trade deadline passed. The Marlins weren't talking to any teams about a Stanton trade in the final hour leading up to the deadline, sources told FOX Sports.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is still confident his team can make a run at the playoffs, according to MASN.

Harper pointed to the Nationals' nine remaining games against the Braves as a potential reason they could get back into the race. The team is currently 10 1/2 games out of first in the NL East. Harper added, "if we play like we’re capable, we will win this and we will do it. I know that for a fact."

Harper is hitting .273/.370/.529 in 242 at-bats.