MLB Player News

Morel is starting at third base and batting eighth in Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

A day after hitting his first MLB home run as a pinch hitter in his first career at-bat, Morel will pick up his first start in the majors. The 22-year-old got the call from Double-A Tennessee to provide some outfield depth with Jason Heyward hitting the COVID-19 injured list, but Morel can also play some third base. Patrick Wisdom gets a rest day to make room at the hot corner.

Harper (elbow) isn't starting Wednesday against the Padres.

The Phillies were pessimistic about Harper's availability for Wednesday's matchup, and he'll officially be held out of the lineup for a third straight game after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection over the weekend. However, the team is hopeful that he'll be back in action for Thursday's series finale. Odubel Herrera, Roman Quinn and Nick Castellanos will start in the outfield from left to right while Kyle Schwarber serves as the designated hitter Wednesday.

The Diamondbacks placed Hummel on the injured list Wednesday without a designation, implying that he's been added to the COVID-19-related IL.

Hummel had been in line to make his third consecutive start in Wednesday's series finale with the Dodgers, but he was ultimately scratched after testing positive for the virus or being ruled out due to contact-tracing-related concerns. In a corresponding move, Arizona called up infielder Yonny Hernandez from Triple-A Reno.

Soler isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Nationals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins haven't given any indication that Soler is dealing with an injury, but he'll remain out of the lineup for a second straight game to close out the series against Washington. Brian Anderson will shift to left field while Erik Gonzalez starts at third base.

Ruf will start in left field and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Rockies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Ruf has enjoyed a big series in Colorado thus far, going 4-for-6 with two doubles, two walks, four runs and three RBI between the first two contests. He'll stick in the lineup for the second straight game with a southpaw (Kyle Freeland) on the hill for Colorado, but Ruf still looks like he'll serve as mostly a short-side platoon player moving forward now that the Giants have all of their key position players healthy.

Pederson is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Rockies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Pederson will take a seat Wednesday as the Giants take on left-hander Kyle Freeland. The outfielder has gone 2-for-20 with a homer and three RBI in his last six games, so the day off could help him get back into his groove. Darin Ruf will enter the lineup in left field and bat second in the series finale.

Appearing as a pinch hitter, Morel delivered a solo home run in his only at-bat during Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Morel began his MLB career with a bang, delivering a home run in his first at-bat during the eighth inning of the 7-0 win. He is the first Cubs player to homer in his first career at-bat since Willson Contreras did so in 2016, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. The 22-year-old was recalled from Double-A Tennessee on Tuesday to replace Jason Heyward, who landed on the COVID-19-related injured list. Morel should be on the short side of a platoon in center with Rafael Ortega, so he may not see enough playing time in the short term to have a ton of fantasy value.

McCutchen (illness) won't be activated from the COVID-19 injured list for Wednesday's series finale versus Atlanta, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The veteran outfielder was scheduled for a full workout Tuesday, and the team apparently wants to give him a couple more days to keep ramping up before he rejoins the active roster. McCutchen is now expected to be activated for Friday's series opener against the Nationals.

Turner is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Diamondbacks, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Turner went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two strikeouts during Game 1 and will take a seat for Tuesday's nightcap. Max Muncy will man the hot corner while Edwin Rios bats cleanup as the designated hitter.

Harper (elbow), who's out of the lineup Tuesday against the Padres, may miss Wednesday's game as well, but he hopes to return for Thursday's series finale, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Harper received a platelet-rich plasma injection to address the UCL sprain in his right elbow, an injury he's been able to play through as a designated hitter. He could wind up missing at least three days due to the shot, but a trip to the injured list doesn't appear to be on the table at this time.