MLB Player News

  • Justin Turner DH | CHC

    Dodgers' Justin Turner: Delivers three extra-base hits

    Turner went 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 11-2 win over the Red Sox.

    Turner was 3-for-21 in his last seven contests but busted out in Boston against Chris Sale. The veteran third baseman has battled numerous injuries throughout the season but is still slashing .295/.374/.460 with 11 home runs in 84 games.

  • Alex Dickerson DH | ATL

    Giants' Alex Dickerson: Not starting Saturday

    Dickerson (back) is on the bench as expected Saturday against the Brewers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

    Dickerson left Friday's game with back tightness and was ruled out for Saturday's contest after the game. Brandon Belt will start in left field in his absence and could spend more time there until the Giants are fully confident in Dickerson's health, as he's had significant back problems in the past.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Dodgers' Joc Pederson: Sits again Saturday

    Pederson remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Red Sox.

    Chris Sale represents the second of three lefties the Red Sox will throw against the Dodgers, so Pederson remains stuck on the bench. Max Muncy again gets the nod at first base.

  • Jesse Winker DH | NYM

    Reds' Jesse Winker: On bench against lefty

    Winker will sit against lefty Kyle Freeland and the Rockies on Saturday.

    Winker hasn't started against a lefty since late May. Phillip Ervin will start in left field, as he's done against the previous six southpaws the Reds have faced.

  • Brandon Belt DH | TOR

    Giants' Brandon Belt: Two hits from leadoff spot

    Belt went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 10-7 win over Milwaukee.

    Belt continues to bat first in the order following the All-Star break. The veteran first baseman has been doing an extraordinary impression of a traditional leadoff hitter, slashing .361/.452/.471 with a stolen base and eight runs scored in nine games in that role. While unconventional (compared to his heart-of-the-order profile), Belt continues to be the Giants' top on-base man by a long shot, so he should stick atop the order for the foreseeable future.

  • Alex Dickerson DH | ATL

    Giants' Alex Dickerson: Exits with back tightness

    Dickerson left Friday's game against the Brewers with back tightness and will be held out of Saturday's game, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

    He went 0-for-3 before exiting. Back issues have plagued Dickerson for several years, so the Giants won't take any chances, already ruling him out the night before Saturday's contest. Hopefully it is just a day-to-day issue. Mike Yastrzemski could get the start in left field in his place.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Dodgers' Joc Pederson: Out against lefty

    Pederson is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.

    Pederson will hit the bench against a lefty (Eduardo Rodriguez) as he nearly always does. He could remain there all weekend as the Red Sox will start three straight southpaws. Max Muncy starts at first base in his absence.

  • Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT

    Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna: Improvement continues

    The Cardinals remain encouraged by the progress of Ozuna (fingers) and hope to activate him by the end of July, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

    The outfielder hit the injured list June 29 after getting hurt on a pickoff attempt at first base, and reports on him have been encouraging since. Rogers notes Ozuna still has some inflammation in his fingers at this point of his recovery, but the all-important strength he'd lost is returning. "It is about regaining strength, but it's also about not putting it in a position to make it worse," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. "I think that's probably the most important aspect to all of this."

  • Matt Carpenter DH | STL

    Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Returns from IL

    Carpenter (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

    Carpenter has been on the shelf since July 2 due to a lower-back strain, though he benefitted from the All-Star break and will be ready to roll when his team resumes play Friday against Arizona. He put together an uncharacteristic .216/.325/.381 slash line through 77 games in the first half, so he'll look to turn things around following the break.

  • Mark Vientos DH | NYM

    Mets' Mark Vientos: Heating up at Columbia

    Vientos went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI for Low-A Columbia on Sunday.

    The 19-year-old seems to have turned a corner after a rough start to the campaign, slashing .367/.441/.567 over his last 16 games with two homers and 15 RBI as well as a solid 5:11 BB:K. Vientos still has a world of upside and power potential as he fills out, and while he now has some company at the hot corner in the Mets' pipeline after the club drafted Brett Baty with the 12th overall pick this year, his bat should play anywhere if he develops as expected.

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