MLB Player News

McCutchen went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored Sunday against Kansas City.

McCutchen was on base four times in the series finale, and he managed to score the go-ahead run in the fifth. The 32-year-old outfielder has been struggling so far this season through 38 games (.238/.370/.399 slash line), but Sunday's performance could be a sign that he's beginning to see the ball much better at the dish.

Belt (knee) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt made a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday's 5-4 loss, striking out in his lone trip to the dish. While the Giants' decision to use Belt off the bench offers hope that he'll avoid a trip to the injured list, his sore right knee looks like it might still be presenting complications for him in the field. With Belt idle for the second straight game, Pablo Sandoval will draw a start at first base.

Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The fact that the Reds are facing a tough left-hander (Madison Bumgarner) along with playing a day game after a night game likely influenced manager David Bell's decision to withhold Winker from the lineup. With Winker on the bench, Jose Peraza will pick up a start in left field.

Carpenter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.

With a lefty (Steven Brault) on the mound for Pittsburgh and the Cardinals playing a day game after a night game, manager Mike Shildt evidently viewed it as an opportune time to give Carpenter just his third day off of the season. Carpenter, who went 0-for-9 over the first two games of the series, will be replaced at third base by Jedd Gyorko.

Blackmon went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.

The 32-year-old is red hot at the plate, hitting safely in nine straight games and slashing .368/.455/.789 over that stretch with nine of his 14 hits going for extra bases (five doubles, a triple and three homers). Blackmon's OPS on the year now sits at an even .900.

Belt (knee) went 0-for-1 with a strikeout in his lone plate appearance in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Reds.

Belt wasn't in the starting nine after tweaking his surgically repaired right knee Friday. An MRI on Saturday revealed no structural damage, and his presence off the bench bodes well for a potential return to the starting lineup in Sunday's series finale against Cincinnati.

Belt had an MRI on his sore knee which showed no significant injury, and he's available off the bench Saturday against the Reds, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt had said he didn't believe the injury was a serious one, and the test agreed with him. Pablo Sandoval is starting Saturday but could head back to the bench Sunday.

Belt (knee) is on the bench Saturday against the Reds, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt left Friday's game with knee soreness and will require at least one game on the bench. He reportedly doesn't believe the injury to be a serious one, though the Giants have yet to set a clear timeline for his return. Pablo Sandoval gets the start at first base in his absence.

Ramirez's contract was selected by the Marlins on Saturday, and he'll head straight into the starting lineup against the Mets, batting seventh and playing left field, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Ramirez hit a blistering .355/.408/.591 in 31 games for Triple-A New Orleans. The Marlins have very few locked-down roles anywhere on their roster, so he could have a shot to win a steady job should he impress in his first few games.

Belt (knee) was lifted from Friday's loss to the Reds after experiencing soreness in his right knee while running out a ground ball in the eighth inning, Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Schulman pointed out that Belt's soreness was in the same knee that he has had two separate surgeries on throughout his career. That said, the first baseman insisted that the injury should not be considered serious, which should relieve fantasy owners until further news is revealed. Belt has battled through knee soreness already this season, so we will consider him day-to-day heading into Saturday's contest against Cincinnati.