MLB Player News

Winker (illness) is starting in left field and batting leadoff Friday at Arizona.

The 27-year-old hasn't seen game action since April 3 due to an unspecified illness, but he'll return to the top of the order Friday. Winker had a strong start through the first two games of the season, going 3-for-8 with one double, three runs and one walk.

Belt is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt has yet to start consecutive games this season and will stick on the bench Friday with southpaw Austin Gomber pitching for Colorado. Darin Ruf will start at first base and bat cleanup for the Giants in his place.

Dickerson is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus Colorado, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Dickerson will take a seat for the second straight game with left-hander Austin Gomber starting for the Rockies. Austin Slater, Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski will start from left to right in the outfield for the Giants.

Ruf went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base Wednesday against the Padres.

Ruf was in the lineup in place of Alex Dickerson with lefty Blake Snell on the mound. He launched his second home run of the season, both of which have come against southpaws. He'll likely continue to get his at-bats primarily against left-handers, meaning Dickerson should see the majority of playing time in left field as the season wears on.

Pederson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

Pederson tied the game at 1-1 with his eighth-inning homer. That blast was the outfielder's first hit in six games this year. He's produced three RBI, a run scored and eight strikeouts across 20 plate appearances. Should the lefty-hitting Pederson continue to struggle, Jake Marisnick could begin to earn more playing time.

Blackmon is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

After going 2-for-19 with a home run and two RBI through the Rockies' initial five games, Blackmon will take a seat for the first time this season. Yonathan Daza will cover right field while Blackmon heads to the bench for what's presumably a maintenance day.

Carpenter will start at second base and bat fifth Wednesday against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt may have cut bait with the platoon of Justin Williams and Austin Dean in right field, as Tommy Edman will cover the position for the second day in a row. Edman's move to the outfield will open up the keystone for Carpenter, who picked up his first start in Tuesday's 4-2 win. He went hitless in three at-bats to continue his rough stretch at the plate that has lasted since spring training, but Shildt looks like he may give the veteran the chance to work his way out of the prolonged slump. Carpenter is helped by the fact that Williams and Dean have combined to go 0-for-17 with 10 strikeouts so far this season.

Dickerson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Along with Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford, Dickerson is one of three lefty-hitting regulars who will take a seat in the series finale with southpaw Blake Snell on the bump for San Diego. Darin Ruf will fill in for Dickerson in left field.

Belt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

With a tough southpaw in Blake Snell on the bump for San Diego, the lefty-hitting Belt will bow out of the starting nine for the series finale. Wilmer Flores will make his second start of the series at first base in place of Belt.

Manager David Bell said that Winker (illness) will take part in baseball activities during a pregame workout Wednesday before a determination is made on whether he'll be available off the bench in the Reds' series finale with the Pirates, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Even if the Reds elect not to use Winker for a fourth straight game, the 27-year-old would still appear on track to re-enter the starting nine for Friday's series opener in Arizona. Tyler Naquin will continue to work in left field for Winker after slugging three home runs and driving in 10 over the past three games.