MLB Player News
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Placed on IL
The Cardinals placed Carpenter on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right oblique strain, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Carpenter's move to the injured list is retroactive to Tuesday, so he will be eligible to return beginning April 12. The 38-year-old has played in just three of St. Louis' seven games so far, but losing him is another hit to the Cardinals' depth, as the team is already dealing with a handful of injuries to begin the year. Pedro Pages was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.
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Jorge Soler RF | LAA
Giants' Jorge Soler: Goes yard again Wednesday
Soler went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Soler has powered up with homers in back-to-back games, and he has an RBI in each of the last three contests. The slugger is 7-for-25 (.280) with a 5:6 BB:K through seven games this season. Soler displayed better plate discipline with a 24.3 percent strikeouts rate and an 11.6 percent walk rate in 2023, but it's possible he could build on those marks in 2024. His playing time as the Giants' designated hitter has been steady, so he should continue to be heavily involved in run production.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | PIT
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Sitting out Thursday
McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Nationals.
He will yield to Connor Joe at designated hitter against right-hander Josiah Gray. McCutchen is 3-for-16 with a 9:4 K:BB across his first 21 plate appearances this season.
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Jesse Winker RF | NYM
Nationals' Jesse Winker: Back in lineup Thursday
Winker (illness) will start in left field and bat sixth in Thursday's game versus the Pirates.
Winker has dealt with an illness this week but is feeling well enough to play Thursday. It's a bit of a surprise he's in the lineup at all since the Pirates are starting lefty Martin Perez, and the left-handed hitting Winker has a career .657 OPS versus southpaws.
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J.D. Martinez DH | NYM
Mets' J.D. Martinez: Could join team next week
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Martinez could join the Mets as soon as next week for their series in Atlanta, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Martinez has been working out at extended spring training but will be assigned to a minor-league affiliate as soon as Friday. The designated hitter won't be added to the 26-man roster when first eligible Sunday, and it's not a given either that he'll be activated for the four-game series in Atlanta that begins Monday. The Mets' decision on whether to make Martinez available in Atlanta will probably depend on how he looks and feels during his at-bats in the minors. Whenever he's ready, Martinez will take over as the Mets' everyday designated hitter, pushing DJ Stewart to a bench role.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Clubs first homer with Dodgers
Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in a 5-4 win against the Giants on Wednesday.
Ohtani had gone homerless over his first eight games with Los Angeles before smashing a 430-foot solo shot in the seventh inning Wednesday to supply his team with a critical insurance run. It was the two-way star's fourth extra-base hit among his 10 total knocks this season, and the long ball produced his fourth RBI. Though he hasn't come blazing out of the gates in his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani has slashed a respectable .270/.317/.432 and has benefitted from the club's robust offense by scoring seven runs through nine games.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Tallies three hits in loss
Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a double, a run and two RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs.
Blackmon helped ignite Colorado's offense from the top of the lineup, logging his second straight three-hit game out of the leadoff spot. The veteran outfielder has looked rejuvenated to begin the campaign, slashing .417/.440/.625 with five RBI through six games. He's yet to go deep but has four extra-base hits among his 10 overall knocks, and -- perhaps most impressively -- he's yet to strike out across 24 plate appearances.
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Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Continues throwing program
Ohtani (elbow) has been throwing every other day, and he made 50 throws from approximately 60 feet on flat ground Monday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Ohtani was cleared to begin a throwing program in late March, and he's been engaging in an every-other-day program as he begins to build his arm back up following last September's Tommy John surgery. The two-way star won't pitch this season, but he's expected to be a part of the Dodgers' rotation next year, and he reportedly could see some time in the outfield or at first base later in the current campaign if the organization is comfortable with his rehab progress. Ohtani will stick to being the team's everyday DH in the meantime, though he's off to a slow start with a .242/.297/.333 slash line and no homers through 37 plate appearances.
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Jesse Winker RF | NYM
Nationals' Jesse Winker: Not in lineup
Winker (illness) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Winker had to be removed from Monday's 8-4 loss to Pittsburgh due to an illness. Even after Tuesday's off day, Winker won't rejoin the lineup, though it's unclear whether he's still not feeling well or if he's just getting an extra day to rest up. Eddie Rosario will play left field and Victor Robles will be in center while Winker is on the bench.
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Jorge Soler RF | LAA
Giants' Jorge Soler: Swats first homer of 2024
Soler went 2-for-3 with a solo home run during Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers.
After notching 36 long balls a season ago, it took Soler six games in a Giants uniform to get on the board in the homer column. He tagged Ryan Yarbrough for a solo shot in the sixth inning. While the power has been down so far, it's still super early, and Soler has been able to contribute elsewhere with five runs scored and a .370 OBP.