MLB Player News
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Will get MRI
Turner will undergo an MRI on his right hamstring Friday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Manager Dave Roberts said he's "holding out hope" that Turner will avoid the disabled list, but hamstring issues can be tricky. Turner likely won't play Friday as they await the results. Chris Taylor is a candidate to fill in at third base while the vet rests.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Leaves with apparent hamstring injury
Turner exited Thursday's game against the Marlins with an apparent right hamstring injury, J.P. Hoonstra of the Southern California News Group reports.
He suffered the injury rounding third on a Yasmani Grandal base hit to left field and immediately grabbed at the back of his right leg. Turner slowly limped off the field and went straight back to the clubhouse with team trainers. Chris Taylor, who replaced Turner at third base, could be an option to fill in at the hot corner should Turner miss additional time. The Dodgers figure to provide an update on Turner's status late Thursday or early Friday.
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Joc Pederson DH | TEX
Dodgers' Joc Pederson: Struggles lead to lineup demotion
Pederson was moved down to seventh in the batting order Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in a win over the Giants.
Manager Dave Roberts had been using his young outfielder as the team's leadoff hitter against righties, but he went with Chase Utley in place of the struggling Pederson on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has gone just 1-for-15 in his last four games, but it has been a struggle all season following his big Opening Day stat line. Pederson has never been much of a batting average help in fantasy, but with just one homer in 30 games, he isn't cutting it for fantasy owners in standard formats. He has, however, hit 51 combined long balls over his last two seasons, so we know there is more power contained in that bat and it may just be a matter of time before it shows.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | ATL
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Fills stat sheet in win over Nats
McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two steals and two runs against the Nationals on Wednesday.
This marks McCutchen's first multi-hit game since April 28, as it's been a tough season for the veteran. Still, there are positive signs to be found here. His power hasn't entirely abandoned him (.179 ISO)and his .225 BABIP is primed for improvement, considering that McCutchen has actually cut his strikeout rate while still generally hitting the ball well. There's an intriguing buy-low opportunity here.
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Justin Turner DH | CHC
Dodgers' Justin Turner: Comes around twice in win over Giants
Turner went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs in San Francisco on Wednesday.
Although we're still waiting for Turner's power stroke to show up -- he has just one homer this year after socking a career-best 27 last season -- he's swinging a hot bat nonetheless, as evidenced by his .372 batting average, which ranks fourth in baseball. The counting stats haven't exactly come along as you'd like (17 RBI and 17 runs), but if Turner keeps hitting with something resembling this level of consistency, that discrepancy will be corrected in due time.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Takes seat versus lefty Wednesday
Belt is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Lefty Clayton Kershaw is taking the mound for Los Angeles, so manager Bruce Bochy opted to stack his lineup with right-handed hitters. Belt will cede Wednesday's start at first base to Mike Morse.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Nationals' Bryce Harper: Launches 13th homer Tuesday
Harper went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.
PNC Park was the last remaining National League park Harper had never homered in coming into this series, but the 24-year-old scratched it off his list with a no-doubt blast off Wade LeBlanc in the ninth inning, his 13th long ball of the season and fourth in the last seven games.
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Charlie Blackmon RF | COL
Rockies' Charlie Blackmon: Swats ninth homer Tuesday
Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Twins.
His two-run blast, Blackmon's ninth homer of the season, capped a four-run sixth inning that blew open the game. The 30-year-old is putting up the best power numbers of his career so far to fuel a career-high .979 OPS, but fantasy GMs hoping for another five-category performance from him might be disappointed by his 2-for-4 showing on stolen base attempts through 39 games.
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Brandon Belt DH | TOR
Giants' Brandon Belt: Homers again Tuesday
Belt continued his recent power surge Tuesday, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 2-1 win over the Dodgers.
The veteran first baseman broke out of his power drought in a big way this week, smacking four dingers over his last six contests. Even with his patient approach at the plate, Belt has a tendency to be a streaky hitter in the power department, so owners should enjoy the ride while it lasts. It is worth noting that he is scheduled to receive a day off Wednesday against Clayton Kershaw, so those in daily leagues should deploy a backup plan at first base.