MLB Player News

As expected, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton returned to the starting lineup Thursday at Cincinnati after missing six starts with a shoulder injury. Stanton enters play Thursday with a .167 average and hasn't hit a home run through his first nine games.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy dropped first baseman Brandon Belt to the seventh spot in the lineup Thursday against the Brewers. Bochy said he made the move because other players, like Brandon Crawford, were hitting better and he hopes this move will take some pressure off the struggling Belt.

Bochy added he might keep Belt low in the lineup for a while. Belt is off to a slow start after a torrid spring, batting .180 (9 for 50) with no home runs and four RBI in 13 games.

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper picked up a double and three singles in five at-bats in his return to the lineup Wednesday. Harper missed Tuesday's action with flu-like symptoms, and appeared to still be affected by the illness in the game despite the big offensive day.

Harper boosted his season average to .364 with the four-hit game.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen recorded his third multi-hit performance in the last five games on Wednesday night against the Cardinals. He went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored in a 5-0 win.

McCutchen singled for both of his hits and is batting .275 (14 for 51) with two homers, 11 RBI and five stolen bases.

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler's five-game suspension for a bat-wielding incident ends Thursday and he is expected to be back in the lineup at High-A Daytona, MLB.com reports. Soler was hitting .423 with two home runs in six games before the suspension.

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper is in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlinsa after missing Tuesday's action with flu-like symptoms.

Harper returns to a .320/.382/.640 line in 55 plate appearances with five home runs and one steal this season.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is expected to return from a shoulder injury Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Stanton has missed the last five games with the injury and is out for a sixth consecutive game Wednesday. However, he has participated in batting practice and should be good to go without any long-term effects starting Thursday in Cincinnati.

Giancarlo Stanton remains out of the Marlins' lineup Wednesday against Washington, the club announced.

Stanton has now missed six straight games due to a shoulder injury. He has participated in batting practice each of the last two days and has felt progress, so his return is likely imminent. The Marlins being a four-game series at cozy Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati Thursday.

Brandon Belt put together a 3-for-4 night with two RBI Tuesday for the Giants against the Brewers.

Belt remains mired in a slump to start the year, as he's hitting just .191/.235/.255. He's still looking to get his power game going as well -- he has just three doubles and has yet to hit a home run. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was held out of Tuesday's starting lineup against the Marlins with flu-like symptoms, according to the Washington Times. Harper, who started the first 13 games, was replaced by Tyler Moore in left field.

The 20-year-old is listed as day-to-day. The Nationals will wrap up a three-game series with the Marlins Wednesday before playing three against the Mets in New York Friday.