MLB Player News

The Astros brought in a left-handed reliever to try to neutralize Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter Wednesday, but that plan backfired and eventually led to their 5-4 loss. Carpenter hit a two-run home run off Wesley Wright to give the Cardinals the win, and Carpenter told reporters he isn't phased by teams trying to gain a platoon advantage.

"I've always felt, my whole career, even as an amateur, like I see lefties pretty well," said Carpenter. "I try to take the same approach and just get a good pitch to hit and try to put a good swing on it."

 Carpenter has nine home runs on the season, with four of them coming of lefties. He went 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored in the game.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf continued to bring a solid bat Wednesday against the Nationals, as he hit safely for the fifth straight game since being recalled from Triple-A.

Ruf had just one hit in the game, but it was his first home run of the season, a solo shot in a 5-1 loss. He finished the game 1 for 3 with a walk, bringing his average to .385 through five games.  

Roc Nation Sports is looking to represent two Cuban major leaguers, Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, Yahoo! Sports reports. Puig already has met with the agency and reportedly left intrigued.

Roc Nation Sports, led by agent and rapper Jay-Z, signed Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano as its first client earlier this year. The agency has partnered wth Creative Artists Agency.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run double Wednesday against the Braves to end a 10-game RBI drought. Stanton had been in a 3-for-26 slump before he put the Marlins ahead in their four-run first inning against Paul Maholm.

Stanton finished 1 for 2 with one run and three walks. Stanton is off to a slow start in July, batting .182 (6 for 33) with no home runs, two doubles and two RBI in 10 games. He has walked 13 times in July, however.

Mets infielder Justin Turner (intercostal strain) has started to hit off a tee and soft toss, according to ESPN. Turner has been on the 15-day disabled list since mid-June.

Cardinals All-Star second baseman Matt Carpenter had a big performance during Tuesday's 9-5 win vs. Houston. Carpenter rapped three hits, including two doubles, totaled three RBI and scored three times.

It was Carpenter's second three-hit game in July. He's hit safely in 15 of his last 17 games. Carpenter is batting .361 (26 for 72) with two triples, three home runs, eight doubles, 15 RBI and 17 runs in his last 17 games.

It might not show up in the stat column, but former Marlins reliever Jon Rauch made at least one significant contribution before he was jettisoned off the roster. Rauch helped rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna with his throwing accuracy by changing the way Ozuna grips the baseball, according to The Miami Herald.

"The ball was diving before," Ozuna said. "Jon Rauch told me to grab the ball with the seams behind. I saw the difference right away. The ball went straight, straight, straight -- no movement."

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt had a terrible performance during Monday's 16-inning loss to the Mets. Belt was hitless in eight at-bats and struck out five times.

Belt is the first San Francisco player since Jose Uribe in 1985 to go 0 for 8, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He is also the third Giants player to strike out five times, following Steve Whitaker in 1970 and Glenallen Hill in 1995.

Belt has struck out 11 times in his last five games and is batting .174 (4 for 23) in six July games.

The participants in the 2013 Home Run Derby were announced Monday, with Rockies outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer joining Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Mets third baseman and NL captain David Wright on the National League squad.

Gonzalez, who is suffering from a finger sprain, leads the National League with 24 home runs heading into Monday's action. Cuddyer is tied for ninth with 15 home runs, while Harper, who missed part of May and all of June due to injury, has 13 home runs, matching Wright's total.

The Rockies recalled outfielder Charlie Blackmon Monday to take the 25-man roster spot of pitcher Roy Oswalt, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Blackmon played in 12 games with the Rockies in May, hitting .240/.269/.360 with one home run, two RBI and one stolen base in 25 at-bats. He has hit .288/.376/.428 with three home runs, 40 RBI and seven stolen bases in 257 at-bats with Triple-A Colorado Springs.