MLB Player News

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt took grounders before Monday's game, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt wasn't able to grip the ball with his other hand, as he continues to recover from a fractured thumb. He'll try and continue to ramp up baseball activities in advance of a potential rehab assignment.

The Dodgers aren't ready to promote outfielder Joc Pederson for a few reasons, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal wrote the most obvious reason is because the Dodgers' outfield situation remains crowded.

However, the Dodgers remain hesitant to promote Pederson because they feel he is still not a finished product. He is striking out every 3.5 plate appearances and still needs to work on improving against left-handed pitchers. The team also wants to see Pederson mature, as he has failed to run out grounders on multiple occasions.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer in Sunday's 5-0 win in Toronto, his first long ball since April 4. Carpenter's second homer of the season gave him 23 RBIs.

The leadoff hitter finished 2 for 5, raising his average to .299/.390/.394.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that injured first baseman Brandon Belt could begin baseball activities within the next week, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

"He's been running around a little bit, riding the bike, doing some one-arm swinging," Bochy said. "I think within a week he'll be doing some baseball activities, but he can pick up the conditioning to see if we can speed up this process."

Out since May 9, Belt had pins removed from his fractured thumb Friday. If Belt responds positively next week, it's possible he could go out on a rehab assignment the following week.

The Pirates exploded for 15 runs Friday night, so they didn't need a double and home run by Andrew McCutchen to beat Milwaukee. But they got them anyway.

McCutchen doubled in a run to open the scoring in the first and slammed a solo shot in the third before going hitless in his last three at-bats.

He has three home runs, five RBI and six runs in the last five games combined to raise his slugging percentage to .489, its highest point since May 13.

I've been slow to embrace the Marlins' Marcell Ozuna, in part because his plate discipline is horrible.

But that doesn't stop him from hitting the ball a long way when he does make contact. His 411-foot blast Thursday gave him five home runs in his last 14 games and 11 on the season.

He wouldn't be the first power hitter to succeed in spite of a low walk rate. Adam Jones is just one notable example. And while Ozuna certainly isn't that good, he's not giving anyone the impression he is. His poor plate discipline is reflected in his batting average, which entered play Thursday at a modest .274.

As for the power, Ozuna had several 20 homer seasons in the minors, which are rarer than you might think outside of the California League and the Pacific Coast League, so he may well have the capacity for 30 as he enters his mid-20s.

Since what he's doing in terms of batting average isn't so far-fetched either, yeah, maybe he really is this good. I'd prefer him in Rotisserie leagues to Head-to-Head -- and wouldn't trust him as much more than a fourth outfielder even there -- but he deserves a longer leash going forward.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf will not begin baseball activities until early next week, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Ruf is dealing with wrist and knee issues, and still has some swelling in his leg. Ruf was placed on the Triple-A disabled list Thursday. He's received just 10 at-bats in the majors this season.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton provided a key late home run Thursday, in an 11-6 win over the Rays.

Stanton clubbed a two-run home run in the seventh inning, to extend a Marlins lead to 8-5. Though the homer didn't give the Marlins a lead, it provided the ultimate winning margin, though the team would add on in the late innings to make it comfortable. He finished the game 2 for 5 with one run scored and two driven in.

Stanton is off to the best start of his career, batting .314/.407/.614 with a National-League-best 17 home runs and 53 RBI in 60 games. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna sparked a massive offensive performance Thursday, in an 11-6 win over the Rays.

Ozuna led a well-rounded effort for the Marlins, as he drove in four runs in the win. He was 3 for 5, and drove in a run with each hit, including two on a ninth-inning home run, his 11th of the season.

Ozuna is now hitting .274/.319/.466 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 58 games this season, already having surpassed his totals in both categories from his rookie year, in 12 fewer games. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf was placed on the disabled list at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in recent days, after he suffered wrist and knee injuries.

Ruf bruised his right knee and sprained his left wrist after running into a wall Tuesday. According to MLB.com, it is not yet known how long he is expected to be out, but he did need stitches for the knee injury.