MLB Player News
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton: Smacks fifth homer in win
Stanton went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, a walk, and a pair of RBI in Monday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.
Stanton followed his solo blast in the fourth with an RBI double the next inning, accounting for two of Miami's three runs. The 26-year-old slugger has gone yard in consecutive contests, and is up to five dingers in 17 games. What separates Stanton from most of the other guys off to fast starts in the home run department is that he actually possesses the power to sustain this pace over a full season, health permitting.
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Matt Carpenter DH | STL
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Homers in loss to Arizona
Carpenter homered, his third, in Monday's loss to the Diamondbacks.
Carpenter finished 2-for-5, his first multi-hit game in his last 10. He's hitting just .239, but the discipline and power have been there. Carpenter's .851 OPS currently ranks fifth among National League first basemen, and he still has room to improve.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Gets day off Monday
McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Monday night against the Rockies, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
It's McCutchen's first day off of the 2016 season. Starling Marte will slide over to play center field while Matt Joyce draws into the lineup and hits second against Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis.
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Yoenis Cespedes DH | NYM
Mets' Yoenis Cespedes: Has fluid drained from leg
Cespedes had fluid drained from his leg Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Manager Terry Collins reiterated that Cespedes would not be available in Monday's matchup with the Reds and will remain day-to-day for the time being. His status for the Mets' current series with Cincinnati is up in the air at this point.
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Bryce Harper 1B | PHI
Nationals' Bryce Harper: Dramatic pinch-hit homer Sunday
Harper was not in the starting lineup Sunday, but pinch hit in the ninth and launched a solo shot to send the game into extra innings, his ninth home run of the season.
His 2016 season is looking more and more like a sequel to The Natural every day. Harper now sports an utterly ridiculous .323/.405/.855 slash line through 62 at-bats, and has more walks (10) and just as many homers (nine) as strikeouts.
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Andrew McCutchen DH | TEX
Pirates' Andrew McCutchen: Struggls continue Sunday
McCutchen went 1-for-6 with four strikeouts Sunday against the Diamondbacks.
He's struggling right now, with opposing pitchers challenging him with 92-mph fastballs -- and winning. McCutchen has whiffed 19 times in his last 12 games and has just six extra-base hits in 89 at-bats in 2016. Manager Clint Hurdle has started him in each of the team's first 19 games, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him get a day off in the near future. That said, Monday begins a four-game set in hitter-friendly Colorado, which could be the perfect tonic for McCutchen's slump.
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Giancarlo Stanton DH | NYY
Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton: Blasts fourth homer Sunday
Stanton went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and a walk Sunday at the Giants.
Stanton's fourth blast of the season gave the Marlins an early lead in a game they'd eventually win. After going hitless in his last 12 at-bats, hopefully the multi-hit effort will launch him onto a hot streak. April has been a bit of a struggle for the slugger, as his slash line sits at .230/.324/.443.
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Yoenis Cespedes DH | NYM
Mets' Yoenis Cespedes: May return Monday
Cespedes stated Sunday that his right leg feels "way better," and "maybe" he'll be a part of the lineup Monday against the Reds, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
An aggravation of Cespedes' bruised right leg forced back-to-back absences to conclude the weekend series in Atlanta, but rest appears to have been what the doctor ordered. On the other hand, manager Terry Collins will have the final word on Cespedes' availability, so expect some clarification in advance of the 7:10 PM ET first pitch.