MLB Player News

Cubs manager Joe Maddon wants to keep his players fresh this year. One of his most important players, Jorge Soler, has been taking advantage of days off and rains out to keep extra stress off his legs, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Soler played just 86 games in 2014 while battling hamstring injuries in both legs.

"With the season in progress, I definitely want to be able to rest these guys at an opportune moment," Maddon said. "But for right now, based on the schedules, the frequent off-days at this moment, I think he's OK.

"I do listen. If the trainers suggest he might need a day (off), I definitely would do it."

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Giants, putting Justin Turner at first and batting third, the team announced.

Gonzalez is getting his first day off of the season after starting the first 13 games in a row. He is pounding the ball so far this season, hitting .442 with five home runs and 14 RBI.

Turner is hitting .353 in 17 at-bats this season and make his 24th career appearance at first Wednesday. The Dodgers are currently the favorites (-120) against San Francisco.

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to five games during Tuesday's 7-6 defeat to San Diego.

Blackmon gave Colorado a 4-2 lead with a two-run double in the fifth inning for his only hit of the night. He finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI. He has gone 6 for 19 with a double, two triples, two walks and three RBI during his hitting streak. He is hitting .283/.371/.491 on the year.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-3 loss to Philadelphia. 

Stanton went 2 for 4, increasing his average to .260. He now has three home runs and 12 RBI. 

Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against Philadelphia because of lower back tightness, reports Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Ichiro Suzuki will take Yelich's place in left field, while Marcell Ozuna will bat fifth in the order.

Yelich, who signed a seven-year, $49.57 million contract extension before the start of the season, has struggled to make his presence felt at the plate. He is batting .200 (9 for 45) with one double, four RBI, a stolen base, four walks and 13 strikeouts in 11 games.

Miami is favored (-126) in Philadelphia, per VegasInsider.com.

Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson is out of the team's starting lineup for Tuesday's game. However the reason for Dickerson's absence is rest, not the foot that has been giving him trouble. 

Dickerson has been battling plantar fasciitis since spring training and was doubtful for the game. He told MLB.com he thinks he can play.  

The Denver Post reported that Dickerson believes he'll be able to play within the next few days and won't need a trip to the disabled list.

Charlie Blackmon moves from center to left field to replace Dickerson, and Drew Stubbs gets the start in center, batting seventh. 

With two hits Monday, including a double, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen leads all MLB players with 49 hits against the Cubs since the start of 2013, per MLB.com.

He will be looking to add to that total Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as the Pirates finish out a four-game series with Chicago. The Cubs will throw Travis Wood on Tuesday, Jason Hammel on Wednesday and Kyle Hendricks on Thursday.

McCutchen has never faced Hendricks in his career, but he is batting .259 (7 for 27) with one double, two home runs, seven RBI, seven walks and seven strikeouts against Wood and is batting .300 (6 for 20) with one double, two home runs, three RBI, one walk and four strikeouts against Hammel.

In 95 career games vs. Chicago, McCutchen is batting .333 with three triples, 23 doubles, 13 home runs and 51 RBI.

Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler didn't just extend his hitting streak to seven games Monday night against Pittsburgh. He did it in style.

Soler slammed four hits, including a seventh-inning double that contributed to a three-run inning that gave his team the lead for good. He is 12-for-32 during his tear and now boasts a slash line of .320/.364/.520 with two home runs and nine RBI in just 12 games.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Monday star center fielder Andrew McCutchen "has moved better the last couple of games," per MLB.com.

McCutchen has been playing through left knee soreness. However, the injury has only cost him to miss one game and he has played in eight straight games, including Monday's contest against the Cubs.

The four-time All-Star is batting .211 (8 for 38) with one double, two home runs and nine RBI in 11 games. 

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter went 2 for 3 at the plate in St. Louis' 2-1 win over the Reds Sunday. Carpenter provided most of the offense for the Cardinals in the game, smacking a leadoff home run in the first inning over the center field wall off of Mike Leake, his second of the season.

"I didn't know I had that in me," Carpenter said to MLB.com. "I got a good swing off, and I guess it was carrying a little bit better tonight than usual, because I don't hit balls up there often."

He later added a single to boost his average to .400 in 45 at-bats this season. He also leads the team with 10 RBI from the lead off spot in the order.