MLB Player News

Blackmon is not in the lineup Sunday at Arizona, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Blackmon started the past six games and will take a seat Sunday after going 7-for-21 with two doubles, four walks, four RBI and two runs over the past week. Yonathan Daza will start in right field and bat sixth for Colorado.

Pederson (wrist) is participating in live batting practice Sunday at the Cubs' alternate training site, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The 29-year-old was with the Cubs earlier in the road trip while rehabbing the injury, but he has returned to the alternate site to take part in live batting practice. Pederson appears to be in the final stages of his rehab program from left wrist tendinitis and could return from the injured list sometime this week.

Winker (back) will start in left field and bat leadoff Sunday against the Cubs, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

After exiting in the seventh inning during Friday's series opener with a sore back, Winker sat out Saturday's 3-2 loss. The day off appears to have alleviated the pain in Winker's back, as he'll reclaim his normal role atop the lineup and in the corner outfield. With a 1.093 OPS through 87 plate appearances, Winker has been the Reds' most prolific hitter over the first month of the season.

Dickerson will sit Saturday against lefty Blake Snell and the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Dickerson broke out to hit .298/.371/.576 last season, but that success has so far not carried over into this year. He's been protected from same-sided pitching, starting just once against a lefty all year, but is still hitting just .224/.288/.373. Darin Ruf will be the left fielder in his absence.

Harper (wrist) will sit for the third straight game Saturday against the Mets.

Harper hasn't played since taking a fastball off his face and wrist in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. The Phillies made a set of transactions Saturday which didn't include sending Harper to the injured list, so it appears as though they expect him back on the field soon. Matt Joyce will make another start in right field Saturday.

Winker (back) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Winker left Friday's win over the Cubs in the seventh inning due to back tightness. While manager David Bell was originally hopeful that Winker could play Saturday, Tyler Naquin will start in left field and lead off.

Carpenter blasted a pinch-hit three-run home run in Friday's 7-3 win over the Pirates.

Carpenter has now homered as a pinch hitter in each of the last two contests, as he provided the Cardinals with some insurance with his three-run shot in the top of the sixth inning Friday. The 35-year-old hasn't started in any of the last five games and is now hitting .116 with three home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs this season.

Winker exited Friday's win over the Cubs due to back tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Winker was replaced by Mark Payton in left field to begin the seventh inning, and manager David Bell revealed after the game that the 27-year-old was dealing with a back issue. However, Bell was hopeful that Winker would be back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Vogelbach is starting at first base and batting second Friday against the Dodgers, Craig Coshun of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

This marks the first baseman's third consecutive start. Hitting just .196, Vogelbach hasn't excelled at the plate, but he has done enough to continue earning playing time over Keston Hiura.

Harper (face) is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets primarily due to a sore wrist, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The fastball that hit Harper's face Wednesday deflected into his left wrist, which is still sore two days later. While his wrist is bothering him more than his face, neither issue appears to be serious enough to send him to the injured list, with the Phillies calling his absence precautionary. Matt Joyce will fill in for him in right field Friday.