MLB Player News

Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI and three runs Wednesday in the Phillies' 12-3 rout of the Pirates.

Harper was away from the Phillies over the weekend while on paternity list, but the absence hasn't appeared to disrupt his rhythm at the plate. He went 4-for-14 with a home run, stolen base, five runs and two RBI during the series with Pittsburgh, bringing his August OPS to .998 through 22 games.

Winker (neck) returned to Cincinnati on Wednesday to receive additional treatment for his cervical strain, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Winker was rehabbing with the team during the current road trip but returned to Cincinnati due to his slow progress. The 26-year-old didn't suffer a setback, but manager David Bell noted Winker wasn't responding to treatment as quickly as hoped.

Pederson was a healthy scratch from Wednesday's lineup against the Padres, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Enrique Hernandez is starting in right field and hitting seventh in place of Pederson, who is slashing .231/.315/.446 with four home runs through 24 games this month.

Pederson (undisclosed) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Padres.

It's unclear why Pederson was removed from the lineup at this point. Enrique Hernandez is starting in right field and hitting seventh in his place.

Blackmon is starting in right field and hitting second Wednesday against the Red Sox, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Blackmon has hit .324 with six home runs and a .952 OPS in 24 games this month, but Trevor Story is getting the nod atop the order for Wednesday's series finale with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez starting for Boston.

Ramirez is not starting Wednesday against the Reds, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Ramirez has started the past six games and gone 5-for-25 with two doubles and a 32 percent strikeout rate. Garrett Cooper is covering right field in his place, with Neil Walker starting at first base.

Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the Red Sox.

Blackmon had gone hitless in 14 at-bats over his previous four games, which qualified as a slump for the outfielder before he broke out Tuesday. He'll carry a .320/.365/.588 batting line into Wednesday's series finale and should make for an elite fantasy option the rest of the week with four more games at Coors Field to follow.

Pederson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's victory over San Diego.

Pederson lifted a ball over the right field wall in the third inning for his 27th homer of the season. That surpasses the 26 he hit as a rookie in 2015, and his power production this season has come in over 150 fewer plate appearances. The difference is partly explained by Pederson's current role as a left-handed platoon player; whereas he had 116 at-bats against southpaws in his first year, he has only 41 (with no long balls) this season.

Carpenter is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Brewers.

Carpenter will give way to Tommy Edman at third base for Wednesday's series finale after starting the past three games. Since the start of August, the veteran infielder is slashing .224/.361/.362 with two home runs and a 27.4 percent strikeout rate.

Belt went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Belt was the only Giants htter to really get to Mike Leake, getting involved in both runs scored against the Arizona starter. The 31-year-old's struggles this season (.229/.340/.386) had him batting near the bottom of the order for the past month, but Buster Posey's absence from the starting lineup afforded the first baseman a rare start near the top of the order. Belt showed some signs of life at the plate last week with a pair of homers, but he is hitting just .185 (5-for-27) in eight games since then. The veteran will have to put together an extended hot streak in order to restore faith in fantasy owners at this point.