MLB Player News

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon will get a day off, as he's being held out of the lineup against the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon. Blackmon had started 17 games in a row, and has been a force offensively atop the Rockies' lineup.

In that 17-game stretch, Blackmon slashed .357/.416/.571 with two doubles, two triples, three home runs and 10 RBI. 

But he'll get a day of rest in the matinee affair, with Drew Stubbs handling center field and DJ LeMahieu moving up to the lead-off spot in the order.

Bryce Harper has been one of the few bright spots offensively for the Nationals, and he'll try to do some damage from the No. 3 spot in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale vs. the Mets. 

However, Harper has been better this year hitting clean-up, with a .356 average, 17 homers and 48 RBIs from that position in the lineup.

But, given the Nationals' injury situation, it's been hard to provide Harper any protection, so he's spent 11 of the last 12 games hitting third, where he's at .292 with 10 homers and 16 RBIs.

Third baseman Justin Turner put the Dodgers up early, as he knocked a two-out solo home run in the first inning. The lead wouldn't hold up however, as the Dodgers dropped the game 4-3 to the Braves on Tuesday.

The home run, Turner's 12th of the year, was his only hit of the game. Turner has managed to maintain his solid hitting this season, and he is batting .361 over his last 10 games.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter is batting in the sixth spot in the order on Tuesday against the White Sox. This is the first time this season that Carpenter did not hit either first or second in the lineup.

Carpenter has been struggling offensively lately, batting .132 with a home run and five RBI over his last 11 games. He is also batting .198 against left-handers this year, so with the Cardinals set to face a tough southpaw on Tuesday, Carpenter was moved down in the order.

A hand specialist cleared Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to begin dry swings Monday, reports the Miami Herald.

Stanton was expected to miss 4-6 weeks after breaking a bone in his hand. Marlins manager Dan Jennings said he was uncertain of when Stanton could return to the team.

"I don't know that there's truly a time frame," Jennings said. "He'll know and he'll tell us. One thing about Giancarlo, he's very straightforward and very honest with his own assessment of himself and where he is. He's putting together a tremendous year, and you know he wants to be back."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game. Howard has started the last five games and 77 games on the year. 

He'll be replaced in the lineup by Darin Ruf, who gets his 14th start. 

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler hit a solo home run in Sunday's win over Atlanta. 

The homer was his fifth of the year and first since May 29. He went 1 for 4 in the game with a walk. He's now hit in four straight games and has four RBI over that span. 

Soler added his second stolen base of the year. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was dropped to eighth in the batting order Sunday against the Diamondbacks for the first time all season. He had hit seventh in the two previous games.

Belt is 1 for 11 with five strikeouts in the first two games out of the All-Star break. He is batting .318 (14 for 44) with six doubles, three RBI, six runs, five walks, 13 strikeouts and two stolen bases in 12 July games.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of Sunday's lineup at Milwaukee, the team announced.

McCutchen was replaced in center field by Starling Marte, who will bat third. McCutchen is hitting .281 with three home runs and 12 RBI in his last 16 games.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter was not in Sunday's lineup against the Mets, the team announced.

He was replaced at third by Pete Kozma, who will bat eighth. Carpenter is hitting .161 with one home run and seven RBI in his last 15 games.