MLB Player News

Turner was removed from Thursday's game against the Phillies after getting hit by a pitch on his right thumb, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Turner was plunked in the top of the first inning Thursday, and while he was initially able to stay in the contest after getting checked out by trainers, he was ultimately replaced by Austin Barnes prior to the second inning. The severity of the injury is still unclear, but more should be known once he is reevaluated following the conclusion of Thursday's game.

Turner was hit by a pitch in the chest and right hand Thursday in the first inning against the Phillies, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. However, he's staying in the game after being checked on by trainers, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

It appears Turner has dodged an immediate catastrophe but will be monitored as the game goes along. Stay tuned for updates later Thursday.

Martinez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 13-7 win over the Padres.

Martinez's 41st homer of the season helped tie things up at 6-6 in the sixth inning, helping the Diamondbacks climb out of an early hole. With 12 long balls in 17 September contests, Martinez is already tied for third in National League history for home runs during the season's final month. With eight games still to go on the month, Martinez will take aim at surpassing the record total of 15 taters that Troy Tulowitzki hit as a member of the Rockies in September 2010.

Carpenter went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored during Wednesday's win over Cincinnati.

The veteran is turning in an interesting September with an impressive .931 OPS despite going just 7-for-36 at the dish. Considering he's playing through a nagging shoulder ailment, his .500 slugging percentage for the month is especially impressive. Still, he's probably best viewed as a boom-or-bust option over the final weeks of the campaign, and there is always a chance Carpenter is shut down ic the Cardinals get mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

Stanton went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI in Wednesday's win over the Mets.

The only game Stanton went without homering in this three-game set was Tuesday, when Mets pitchers walked him four times. Stanton went through a little slump that lasted from late August into mid-September (.145/.264/.306 with just three homers and three RBI over a 17-game span), which isn't very good timing as far as the fantasy playoffs go, but he's bounced back from that beautifully. His 56 homers are easily good for tops in baseball (by 11 over the second-place Aaron Judge), and his 120 RBI are second only to Nolan Arenado's 125.

Belt (concussion) worked out on the field with the Giants' strength and conditioning coach prior to Wednesday's game, Amy Gutierrez of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Belt was moved to the 60-day DL earlier in the day, officially ending his season, but it seems 29-year-old is making some progress in his recovery from a concussion. Nothing should be taken for granted moving forward given his history of head injuries, but Belt just signed a five-year extension in 2016 and will be a starter next year if healthy.

Harper (knee) is feeling good following Monday's full workout, and was out running the bases and competing in another workout prior to Washington's contest Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports reports.

Harper will continue to ramp up his efforts in the coming days with a simulated game pegged for this weekend, and remains optimistic about returning to the field before the end of the regular season. The club is stressing that his status remains in a "day-to-day" state but acknowledged Tuesday that he could be back in action as soon as next week.

Belt (concussion) was transferred to the 60-day DL on Wednesday.

It was widely assumed that Belt was done for the year, and this move makes it official. Belt suffered a concussion in early August, adding to his extensive history of head injuries. These issues are very serious and will always be a concern, but if healthy, Belt should be the Giants' starter at first base again next season.

Cespedes, who will end up playing only 81 games this season due to multiple lower-body injuries, plans to adjust his training routine over the winter, Kristie Ackert of The New York Daily News reports.

The 31-year-old plans to focus more on resistance and agility training rather than the weightlifting that helped him slug 66 homers over the prior two seasons heading into 2017. A healthy Cespedes will be a crucial component for the Mets if they hope to get back to the playoffs next year, so it's encouraging to see the outfielder take steps to ensure he can stay on the field.

Blackmon went 1-for-3 with two walks, a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Giants.

The 31-year-old has faded a bit towards the end of a long campaign, but it's a testament to how good he's been in 2017 that a .273/.377/.500 slash line in September is considered a slump. Blackmon should remain a fixture at the top of the Rockies lineup down the stretch as they try to lock up a wild-card spot.