MLB Player News

Cespedes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Thursday's loss to Colorado.

This was just the second home run through the past 30 games for Cespedes, as the slugger has struggled to hit for power for a prolonged stretch. He still sports a rock-solid .281/.327/.504 slash line for the campaign, but the counting stats are trailing off considerably, as Cespedes has just 11 homers, 30 RBI and 35 runs.

Blackmon went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two runs scored during Thursday's win over the Mets.

It's been a special fantasy season for Blackmon, and while his nine stolen bases are well below the expected total, he's made up for it in spades in the other categories. After all, Blackmon boasts an elite .330/.384/.606 slash line with 25 homers, 71 RBI and 97 runs. It's also worth noting that his decline in stolen bases really began with last year's 17.

Pederson is not in Thursday's lineup against the Braves.

Pederson will take a seat Thursday, per usual when Los Angeles faces a left-hander pitcher. With Sean Newcomb taking the mound for Atlanta, Enrique Hernandez draws the start in center for the series finale.

Carpenter (hip) is back in the lineup and batting third for Thursday's series finale in Milwaukee.

Carpenter was scratched from Wednesday's contest with right hip discomfort, but it appears as though he won't need any extra time out of the lineup. The 31-year-old will man first base during Thursday's game, and looks to extend his on-base streak to eight games in a row. Since the All-Star break, Carpenter is slashing .323/.391/.452 with six RBI and eight runs.

Winker went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Pirates.

After managing only five homers in 191 games with Triple-A Louisville over the last two seasons, Winker's now left the yard in back-to-back games with the Reds. The 23-year-old had shown modest power in the lower levels of the minors along with strong contact and plate discipline skills, but in all likelihood his line-drive swing won't produce too many more long balls in 2017.

Carpenter was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Brewers due to right hip discomfort, Derrick Goold of the St. Loius Post-Dispatch reports.

It's unclear when the issue cropped up on Carpenter, but it apparently bothered him enough during pregame warmups to keep him out of the contest. Luke Voit will start at first base in his place, while Kolten Wong will move up to the leadoff spot. Consider Carpenter day-to-day for the time being, while more should be known about the severity of his injury following Wednesday's game.

Turner is not in the lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Braves, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Turner's batting average has dropped 12 points since his last off day on July 22, so he'll get another night off Wednesday. Logan Forsythe will slide over to cover the hot corner in his stead, allowing Chase Utley to pick up a start at the keystone to round out the lineup.

Belt went 2-for-5 with a double and his 17th home run of the season in Tuesday's 10-4 win over Oakland.

It took Belt just one game in August to match his home run total from the entire month of July. The veteran first baseman has now gone 4-for-11 with three extra-base hits since returning from a minor wrist injury July 30. Despite his patient approach at the plate, the 29-year-old has proven to be a streaky hitter over the course of his seven-year career, so we could be seeing the beginning of another hot stretch from Belt.

Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

It's his second homer in three games and 25th of the year. Ozuna has slowed down a little at the plate since his huge start to the season, but he's still hitting .298 in 18 games since the All-Star break with 10 runs and 14 RBI.

Winker will start in right field and bat second Tuesday against the Pirates, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Winker, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Tuesday, will spell Scott Schebler in the outfield for the series opener. Schebler is said to be healthy after recently battling a shoulder injury, but with a 4-for-52 (.077 average) showing at the plate since the All-Star break, his hold on an everyday role could be loosening. Moreover, manager Bryan Price indicated prior to Winker's promotion that he wanted to give the rookie "a real look" upon his return to the big leagues, according to Sheldon, as the Reds look to assess Winker's place in their long-term plans. The 23-year-old had seen sparse at-bats in his previous three stints with the big club this season, but it looks like his role could grow substantially this time around.