MLB Player News

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper is not in the starting lineup on Saturday, the third straight game he's missed. 

Harper is dealing with a leg problem originally believed to be a cramp. He also missed Thursday and Friday's games. 

Clint Robinson replaces Harper in right for the sixth time this season, batting cleanup. 

Marlins right fielder and MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton has a broken bone in his hand, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman confirms.

Stanton, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, experienced pain in his left hand while swinging the bat during Friday's loss to the Dodgers. The pain got progressively worse throughout the game.

Stanton is hitting .265 with a league-high 27 home runs and 67 RBI in 279 at-bats this season.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton will be sent for X-rays on his left hand on Saturday. Stanton experienced pain while swinging the bat in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Dodgers. He struck out three times, and the pain got worse each time.

"On the swing, my bat dug into my hand a little bit," Stanton said, per the Miami Herald. "Didn't feel the greatest. Will just get it checked out and know for sure what's going on. My level of concern will be when I know exactly what's up."

Any absence by Stanton would be a huge blow to the Marlins, as he currently leads the league with 26 home runs. His availability for Saturday's game, and the rest of the series, is certainly in question at this point.

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler tested out his sprained ankle by running the bases on Friday. No immediate issues were reporting, and Soler could be able to start a rehab assignment within the next few days, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

A right leg issue has Nationals slugger Bryce Harper sitting again Friday night in Philadelphia.

Harper, who was also sidelined Thursday, was originally considered to be dealing only with a cramp. 

Manager Matt Williams said Harper's hamstring is feeling better. He also said Harper underwent an MRI, which revealed no major damage, but Harper will take at least one more day of rest before returning to the lineup.

He is enjoying a breakout season with a slash line of .340/.466/.719.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt flashed his speed in Thursday's 13-8 win over the Padres. Belt went 3 for 5 with a pair of triples, an RBI and a run scored. 

Even with the three-hit effort, Belt is still batting just .158 (6 for 38) with 16 strikeouts over his last 10 games. 

After sustaining a minor injury to his right leg Wednesday, the Nationals held outfielder Bryce Harper out of Thursday's lineup against the Braves, reports The Washington Post. The original injury was thought to be a cramp.

Harper was replaced by Clint Robinson in right field. Over his last seven games, Harper is hitting .370 with three home runs and seven RBI.

The Nationals are favored (-155) over the Braves on Thursday.

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson was not in the lineup for Thursday's contest at the Chicago Cubs, reports MLB.com.

He was replaced in center field by Enrique Hernandez, who will also bat first. Over his last eight games, Pederson is hitting .208 with two home runs and four RBI.

The Dodgers are the underdogs (+128) at Chicago on Thursday.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper played a key role in Wednesday's extra-inning win against the Braves, as he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning after getting on base via a one-out double.

However, after the game, it was revealed Harper sustained an injury to his right leg as he slid awkwardly into second base on the double.

"It was a cramp when he went into second," Nationals manager Matt Williams said, per MASNsports.com. "Standing there it got a little bit better. He told me he could score if there was a base hit. So, it subsided a little bit, we'll see how it acts when he wakes up in the morning.

"Doc'll take a look at him, trainers will take a look at him when we get back in there and we'll see what we got."

Harper, who went 2 for 5 with one RBI, downplayed the issue.

"I just felt a cramp," Harper said after the game, per MLB.com. "I just got done working out, so I haven't even gotten treatment yet. But, pretty much just a cramp."

He is batting .375 (27 for 72) with six doubles, six home runs, 15 RBI, 11 runs, 10 walks, 11 strikeouts and one stolen base in 20 June games.

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon went 2 for 4 in Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

The multi-hit performance extended Blackmon's hitting streak to eight games.

Over his last eight games, Blackmon is hitting .419 with 13 hits, four doubles and 10 RBI.