MLB Player News

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton hopes Saturday's two-run homer off Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain -- his first home run in a span of 59 at-bats -- sparks his offensive game.

"It's not going to come overnight, when you're that far out of whack," Stanton said, per MLB.com. "It's a process. I don't have too long, but I have a few weeks to turn it around."

Stanton has been working with interim hitting coach John Pierson on a number of different drills. Stanton is working on staying back and letting the pitch arrive rather then reach for it. One objective is also to create more backspin on the baseball.

"It's a little better," he said. "I'm getting more backspin, my normal backspin, like I should have. Before I was topspinning things and cutting my swing off. That's the main focus now, just to backspin the ball."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper returned to the starting lineup Sunday against the Braves after having to start Saturday's 15-inning game on the bench because of a triceps contusion. Harper came off the bench in the ninth inning Saturday and finished out the game, going 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Harper is having a down month in August, batting .184 (9 for 49) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in 14 games.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer during Saturday's 6-4 loss against the Giants. It was his first home run in 16 games.

Stanton doesn't have a multi-hit game in his last 16 starts. He's batting .150 (9 for 60) with one home run, two doubles, four RBI, nine runs, 10 walks and 21 strikeouts in that span.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Braves, after being hit by pitches twice in Friday's game. Harper has been diagnosed with a contusion on his left triceps and was unable to get loose during batting practice. He is considered day to day. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt finished just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle Friday night during a 14-10 win at Miami. Belt drove in a run and scored four times in the game.

Belt went 4 for 6 as he hit his 26th double and third triple of the season. He singled twice and now has 50 RBI for the Giants to go with his .279 batting average.

Few players have been hotter than Belt of late. The first baseman has an 11-game hitting streak working. He's gone 19 for 44 (.432) on the streak thus far with four home runs, four doubles and nine RBI.

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter had a productive day at the plate as he reached base five times in Thursday's 6-5 win in extras over the Pirates.

Carpenter reached on an infield single in the opening frame. He then doubled in the fourth and tripled in a run in the fifth. He singled again in the ninth and fell a home run shy of the cycle as he went 4 for 5 with a walk, two runs scored and one RBI.

Carpenter is hitting .411 (21 for 51) with five RBI in his last 11 games. He has a .315/.385/.480 slash line with nine homers and 58 RBI in 467 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 2 for 5 with his 14th home run in his team's 6-5 loss to the Nationals Wednesday.

Belt extended his hitting streak to nine games while raising his line to .273/.351/.471 in 359 at-bats. All three slash statistics are season highs for the 25-year-old.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is back in the team's starting lineup Wednesday against the Giants. 

Harper was not in Tuesday's starting lineup because he had the flu. He was able to pinch hit during the game. Harper is hitting .262/.361/.507 at-bats. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton called his struggles "mind-blowing," according to the Miami Herald. 

Stanton is missing his second game on the team's road trip. He expressed his frustration with all his numbers. "There's no one thing. (It's) everything, even defense. It's just one of those mind-blowing things," Stanton said. 

In 278 at-bats, Stanton is hitting .237/.351/.439. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is not in the club's starting lineup Wednesday against the Royals. 

Stanton will be replaced in right by Justin Ruggiano. In 278 at-bats, Stanton is hitting .237/.351/.439.