MLB Player News

Pirates slugger Andrew McCutchen had claimed throughout the first month of the season that his problems at the plate were the result of a faulty swing rather than a faulty left knee.

Perhaps he is proving himself right.

McCutchen has finally broken out with 10 hits in his last 26 at-bats, including a two-home homer Tuesday night against Philadelphia. It marked his first home run to center this season.

"I said that when things aren't going well that it has nothing to do with my knee," McCutchen told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "It just had to do with the fact that I wasn't playing like I should be playing. It was just a matter of time. When things get going, they're going to get going."

McCutchen hit .194 in April for only the  second sub-.200 month in his career. His average has crawled up from .185 to .229 since May 5.

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper and manager Matt Williams were both tossed by home plate umpire Rob Drake in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game against Diamondbacks.

Harper was ejected after he struck out on a check-swing to end the top of the seventh. Williams was also tossed after arguing with Drake. Harper doubled in the second inning and finished 1 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout. He is hitting .308 on the season with 12 homers and 31 RBI.

Phillies' Darin Ruf is starting in left field and batting cleanup on Wednesday against the Pirates. Ruf was out of the lineup each of the last two games with a right-hander on the mound. Ruf is batting just .137 against righties this year. 

But with left-hander Francisco Liriano on the bump Wednesday, Ruf will look to break out of a 6-for-30 slump over his last 10 games. 

Ben Revere will slide over and play center field and Ryan Howard moves down to fifth in the batting order on Wednesday. 

Giancarlo Stanton murdered a fast ball on Tuesday and sent it out of Dodger Stadium in the Marlins' loss.

Dodgers left fielder Scott Van Slyke didn't even move when the ball shot over his head.

Stanton became the fourth player ever to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium, joining Willie Stargell (twice), Mike Piazza and Mark McGwire.

The homer was Stanton's eighth of the year and the RBI was his 30th.

Bryce Harper launched another home run Tuesday, connecting for a two-run blast in the Nationals’ loss to the Diamondbacks.

After hitting six homers over a three-game stretch (Thursday-Saturday), Harper did not homer in his last two before Tuesday.

He now has seven homers over his last six games and 12 overall for the season, tops in the National League.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run home run in Tuesday's win over Philadelphia. 

McCutchen went 2 for 4, improving his average to .229. He has three homers and 17 RBI this year. 

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter hit his 15th double of the year in Tuesday's win over Cleveland. 

Carpenter went 2 for 5, raising his average to .336. He scored twice and drove in his 21st run of the season. 

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly admitted Tuesday that the strong play of Alex Guerrero has complicated his plans for third base this season, according to MLB.com. 

Guerrero has split his time this season between third and left field, hitting .326 with six homers and 14 RBI in 46 at-bats. 

Juan Uribe (.261, 1 HR, 6 RBI) and Justin Turner (.309, 5 HR, 13 RBI) have also seen significant time at third for the Dodgers this season.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (fatigue) is back in the starting lineup and batting second Tuesday, while center fielder Jon Jay (thumb) is on the bench for his team's game against the Indians.

Carpenter missed four games last week due to extreme fatigue but is ready to see his first action since Wednesday. He has hit .333/.403/.620 with five home runs and 20 RBI in 108 at-bats.

Jay suffered a thumb injury Saturday and was only able to serve as a pinch-runner Sunday. Peter Bourjos will make another start in center field with Jay sidelined.

The Cardinals are underdogs (+110) in Cleveland Tuesday.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna connected off Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke in the seventh inning for his third home run of the season during Monday's 5-3 loss the Dodgers.

The home run was Ozuna's only hit in the game. He finished the contest 1 for 3 with one walk and two runs scored. Over his last five games, Ozuna is 6 for 20 with three home runs and four RBI. Ozuna has hit each of the three home runs during that span.