MLB Player News

  • Matt Carpenter DH | STL

    Cardinals' Matt Carpenter: Smacks 21st homer, knocks in four

    Carpenter went 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBI and two walks during Sunday's 10-4 win over the Pirates.

    Carpenter put St. Louis ahead with his sixth-inning three-run homer, propelling his team to a 10-4 victory on the season's final day. The home run was his 21st of the season, and although Carpenter slumped after returning from an oblique injury in early August, he retained his pop with 19 extra-base hits over the season's final two months. Carpenter's overall numbers were excellent, as he finished at .271/.380/.505 -- nearly identical to his 2015 line of .272/.365/.505. When healthy, Carpenter is one of the better hitters in baseball with his combination of on-base skills and power.

  • Byron Buxton CF | MIN

    Twins' Byron Buxton: Smacks leadoff inside-the-park home run

    Buxton went 2-for-4 with a double and an inside-the-park home run in Sunday's 6-3 win over the White Sox. He also walked, drove in two runs and scored twice.

    Buxton laced the first pitch of the game over the head of center fielder Leury Garcia, racing around the bases in 14.05 seconds for the season's fastest inside-the-park home run. Buxton's speed was on display all year in center field, but it did not translate to many stolen bases (10). The 22-year-old is still developing as a hitter, as he finished the season at .225/.284/.430 with a 35.6 percent strikeout rate in 331 plate appearances. Next year, he'll look to build on a strong final month that saw him bat .287/.357/.653 with nine home runs.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Dodgers' Joc Pederson: Injures shoulder, not expected to be issue

    Pederson suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Giants, but it's not expected to impact his availability for the NLDS, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

    Pederson stayed in the game Sunday, indicating the issue may not be overly serious. Still, this is a situation worth monitoring as the week progresses to ensure he's healthy for Game 1 against the Nationals.

  • Brad Miller DH | SD

    Rays' Brad Miller: Not starting Sunday

    Miller is out of Sunday's lineup against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

    Richie Shaffer will head to first base while Miller sits out of Sunday's game. Miller's performance has left much to be desired as of late, as he's gone just 2-for-24 (.083) with nine strikeouts over the last seven games.

  • Mets' Yoenis Cespedes: Out of Sunday's lineup

    Cespedes is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports.

    After punching their ticket to the playoffs with Saturday's win, the Mets will rest a few regulars in the season finale. Cespedes hits the bench for the first time since Sept. 5. He didn't have a major role in the playoff-clinching win, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout, but he turned in a tremendous first full season with the Mets. Unless he gets a pinch-hitting opportunity Sunday, he'll finish the campaign with a .280/.354/.530 batting line to go with 31 homers, 86 RBI and 72 runs.

  • Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT

    Marlins' Marcell Ozuna: Remains out for Sunday's finale

    Ozuna is out of the lineup for a second straight game Sunday against the Nationals, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

    Ozuna is one of many Marlins regulars getting days off at the end of the season. He will yield center field to Christian Yelich for Sunday's season finale, while Xavier Scruggs will enter the lineup in left field and bat sixth for the Marlins.

  • Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton: Sitting out finale

    Stanton is out of the lineup for the team's season finale against the Nationals on Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

    Stanton will have sat out each of the Marlins' final three games after returning earlier than expected from a groin issue. There's no indication the injury has resurfaced, but Destin Hood will man right field in his place.

  • Jorge Soler DH | LAA

    Cubs' Jorge Soler: Returns for regular season finale

    Soler (side) will rejoin the lineup for the regular season finale Sunday against the Reds.

    Soler had been sidelined for the past seven games because of the side injury, but he was expected to return to action Sunday. That's indeed the case, as he will man left field, pushing Kris Bryant back to third base and Javier Baez to the bench.

  • Byron Buxton CF | MIN

    Twins' Byron Buxton: Continues late season surge

    Buxton went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, a walk and three runs in Saturday's win over the White Sox.

    After hitting just .193 with one homer in his first 63 games this year, Buxton's finishing the season strong by batting .277 with seven homers, 18 RBI and a .936 OPS in September. At just 22 years old, the former phenom still has time to significantly change from the struggle his first two years have been overall. He showed good isolated power this year (with eight homers in under 300 at-bats), but still needs to improve extremely low contact and walk rates, and a high strikeout rate. A promotion to the top part of the lineup would help Buxton's outlook next year -- perhaps he'll get that after his strong finish this year.

  • Marcell Ozuna DH | PIT

    Marlins' Marcell Ozuna: Out of Saturday's lineup

    Ozuna is not in Saturday's lineup against the Nationals, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports.

    Christian Yelich is the only regular outfielder in the lineup for the Marlins on Saturday, as Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton will make way for Destin Hood and Jeff Francoeur, respectively.

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