MLB Player News

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday that he has seen Carpenter fighting fatigue lately, MLB.com reports. Carpenter has started 69 of his team's first 70 games and played three innings in his only other time out of the starting lineup. The major-league leader in plate appearances, Carpenter has hit .283/.373/.370 with two home runs, 25 RBI and two stolen bases in 276 at-bats.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner remained out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies.

Turner hasn't started since June 12 due to a calf injury, though he's been able to make a couple pinch-hit appearances during that stretch. He has hit .295/.346/.417 with three home runs, 19 RBI and two stolen bases in 139 at-bats.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said outfielder Bryce Harper (thumb) took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery in late April, per The Washington Post. Williams reiterated July 1 as the best-case scenario for Harper's return.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer in the first inning Monday, giving him 19 to lead the National League. Stanton went 2 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored.

Stanton, who has one more homer than Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, also leads the NL with 56 RBI, five more than Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner was held out of the starting lineup Monday night against the Rockies because of a calf injury. Turner has been sidelined since Thursday because of the injury. He is hitting .295 with three homers and 17 RBI in 139 at-bats this season. His status remains uncertain for Tuesday's game against Colorado.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna had a big offensive game Saturday, going 2 for 3 with a walk, a triple, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in his team's 8-6 loss to the Pirates.

Ozuna continues to strike out at an alarming rate, racking up 19 strikeouts in his last 11 games, but he hasn't let him limit his power at the plate. He owns a .271/.319/.466 line with 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 236 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 with a walk and a three-run home run in his team's 8-6 win over the Marlins Saturday.

McCutchen is in the middle of a fantastic June performance, and he's rattled off seven straight games with two hits in each. He's smacked seven of his 11 home runs this month as well. McCutchen has hit .323/.434/.554 with 41 RBI and eight stolen bases in 251 at-bats.

Dodgers infielder Justin Turner is not in the starting lineup Saturday as he continues to deal with a claf injury.

Turner wasn't in the starting lineup Friday either but did manage a pinch-hit RBI single in his team's 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks.. He may be used as a pinch hitter later in Saturday's game as well.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will pick up a bat and get in some work this week, according to The Washington Post. 

Harper plans to take some light swings and play catch. It will be the first time he's been able to do either since his thumb surgery. Harper will not take part in batting practice yet. The team wants to ease Harper in slowly. 

Harper has not played since April 25 due to thumb surgery. He hit .289 over 83 at-bats prior to the injury.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton clubbed his 18th home run Friday.

Stanton stepped to the plate in the third inning, and wasted no time getting to work. He belted a 90 mph fastball from Jeff Locke on the first pitch he saw during the at-bat. He also singled, doubled and walked during the game. Stanton finished 3 for 5, with one run and one RBI.

Stanton is hitting .305/.399/.598 over 249 at-bats.