MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt will see more time in left field as manager Bruce Bochy looks for a way to get Belt and catchers Buster Posey and Andrew Susac in the lineup at the same time, CSN Bay Area reports.

Belt drew a start in left field last Sunday for the first time since 2012, and it appears he'll see more work in the outfield moving forward. However, the impending return of right fielder Hunter Pence could also create a playing-time crunch between Belt, Susac and outfielder Nori Aoki.

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler has struck out 17 times over his last eight games after managing just nine strikeouts in his first eight games, but manager Joe Maddon says there's nothing wrong with his swing, MLB.com reports.

"He was doing really well in the beginning and then he started to expand [his zone]," Maddon said of Soler. "There's nothing wrong with his swing -- he just has to organize his strike zone.

"He's a little bit eager," Maddon said. "He's had a lot of guys in scoring position. He's also done some really nice damage."

Soler has gone hitless in three straight games heading into Sunday's action, giving him a .273/.338/.439 line with two home runs and nine RBI in 66 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is in the midst of a 0-15 slump in the past five games he's played in. McCutchen's batting average is down to .175 while striking out five times in this span. 

"That's baseball … it's a game of adjustments," McCutchen said, via MLB.com. "I'll get there, it's a matter of time," McCutchen said. "I'm not focused on the outcome, just on the feeling. And I'm feeling good, so the outcome will be there. Long as I feel good, I'll get good results."

McCutchen and the Pirates take on the Diamondbacks Sunday at 4:10 p.m.

It took Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton 10 days this season to get his booming bat going. But he has certainly made up for lost time.

Stanton not only slugged his fifth homer in the last 10 games in a waltz Saturday over Washington, but he singled, doubled and walked to send his slugging percentage soaring to a season-high .569.

He was involved in the rout throughout. He doubled in a run and scored in the fourth, walked and scored in the sixth, then put the cherry on top with a 419-foot clout in the eighth.

Giants left fielder Nori Aoki returns to the starting lineup Saturday against the Giants and will bat lead off, reports CSN Bay Area.

Aoki, who received his first off day of the season Friday, is hitting .311 with three RBI in 74 at-bats this season. Also in the lineup Saturday is catcher Andrew Susac, with Buster Posey shifting to first base and moving Brandon Belt to the bench. Susac, making just his third start of the year, is hitting 3 for 8 with two strikeouts to start the year.

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper will move to center field, in place of Denard Span, for Saturday's game. 

"What we have to be mindful of is that we don't want to push [Span] too hard, because this is a long-term thing," manager Matt Williams said to MLB.com. "We have a lot of games left. I want to make sure he is healthy for the rest of the season. Four in a row and a day off is probably the best thing to do. After today, let him go again. He'll let us know how he feels from there. He is playing well."

Reed Johnson gets his second start of the season in right.

The Nationals are -150 money line favorites at Miami. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton made his lone hit count in Thursday afternoon's 9-1 win over the Phillies.

Stanton hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, which also scored Martin Prado. Stanton otherwise went 1 for 5 in the game with three strikeouts. This was Stanton's fourth home run of the season. 

He now has 14 RBI for the year. 

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is set to sit Thursday against the Cubs, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has reported. The day off will allow him to rest his ailing left knee, which has been getting better.

McCutchen is hitless in his last two games and is just 6-for-28 since April 13 without a home run. His slash line on the year is an uncharacteristic .204/.322/.367.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg chose to rest four of his starters for Thursday's day game against the Marlins.

First baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley, shortstop Freddy Galvis and catcher Carlos Ruiz were all held out of the starting lineup. Darin Ruf started at first base, Cesar Hernandez started at second base, Andres Blanco started at shortstop and Cameron Rupp started at catcher.

Ruiz (.184), Howard (.196) and Utley (.120) are all batting below the Mendoza Line (.200). Galvis is batting .300 (15 for 50) with one double, one triple, one home run and eight RBI through 14 games.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 1 for 3 at the plate Wednesday in St. Louis' 7-5 win over the Nationals. Carpenter did his damage in the first inning, ripping a lead off home run off Doug Fister, his third of the season.

Carpenter, who also walked twice, is now hitting .377 with five RBI in 53 at-bats.