MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers' current goal for Turner (wrist) is to begin a rehab assignment late next week, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

If Turner is able to take batting practice on the field by early next week, the rehab assignment seems likely to follow. The 33-year-old has been progressing slowly but surely in his recovery from a fractured left wrist, and a return in mid-May still appears on the table.

Carpenter is not in the lineup Friday against the Pirates.

Carpenter hasn't been the type of player to sit out against lefties, but he is just 2-for-17 with no extra-base hits against southpaws this year. Jedd Gyorko will enter the lineup at third base to replace him Friday.

Cespedes went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI on Thursday against the Cardinals.

Cespedes has gotten off to a slow start but continues to drive in runs while batting predominantly second or third in the Mets' lineup. Thursday was no different, as he came to the plate with a runner on base in three of his at-bats and he took advantage. He has an unsightly 42 percent strikeout rate that is holding his average back, but that figures to correct itself as the season wears on.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run single in a win over the Mets on Wednesday.

Ozuna helped set the tone for what would end up being a prolific night for the Cardinals offense, coming through with a clutch two-run, two-out single in the third inning. The marquee offseason acquisition has been mired in a slump recently, as after a scorching hot start to April, he's only 2-for-27 over his last seven games. However, he's been a run-producing machine throughout the month, with Wednesday's pair of RBI pushing his total to 13.

Winker is out of the lineup Thursday against the Braves, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Interim manager Jim Riggleman is stacking his starting nine with mostly right-handed bats to counter Atlanta lefty Sean Newcomb, resulting in lineup mainstays Winker and Scooter Gennett receiving the day off. Winker's move to the bench will open up a spot in the lineup for Billy Hamilton, who had sat out Wednesday as part of the Reds' four-man outfield rotation.

Carpenter is out of the lineup against the Mets on Wednesday, Brian Stull of St. Louis Baseball Weekly reports.

Carpenter will receive a standard day off following five straight starts as Jedd Gyorko gets the nod at third base for Wednesday's affair. Over 21 games in 2018, Carpenter is hitting .167/.326/.306 with two home runs and 10 RBI.

Belt went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Tuesday's win over the visiting Nationals.

The homers keep coming for the first baseman. That's now five home runs in the last six games, with eight RBI in that span. Belt has brought his slash line up to .292/.418/.691, with 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in 19 games. He'll look to keep the hot bat going during the homestand, with the Dodgers and Padres heading to town next.

Cespedes went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run and two strikeouts in Tuesday's win over the Cardinals.

It's been boom-or-bust to this point with Cespedes, who's struck out nine times in the last three games while dropping to a .195/.255/.379 slash line in the process. Despite that, he still ranks second in the NL with 21 RBI thanks to his five home runs and some timely hitting. He's hit .280 or better in each of the last three seasons, and it seems like only a matter of time until the average ticks up.

Winker is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Braves, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Winker is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak, and he's now hitting a respectable .283/.433/.321 on the season, but he'll head to the bench for Monday's series opener against the Braves after starting each of the previous five games in the outfield. He should continue to see occasional days off with the Reds deploying a four-man outfield rotation consisting of Winker and Monday's starters -- Scott Schebler, Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall.

Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, three runs scored and an RBI on Sunday against the Cubs.

Blackmon continues to accumulate stats at a prolific rate, and he benefited from a big offensive performance from the Rockies by scoring three runs. His home run came in the fifth inning off left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana, though he has remained dangerous at the plate without the platoon advantage in the past. With another series upcoming at Coors Field beginning Monday against the Padres, expect the big numbers from Blackmon to continue.