MLB Player News

Harper was pulled from Saturday night's game against the Giants with a stiff neck, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

Harper, who has been dealing with the neck issue for a few days now, went 0-for-3 (all strikeouts) before getting lifted in the sixth inning. Manager Dusty Baker didn't sound too concerned: "Anybody who has ever had a stiff neck, I mean, you know you're not yourself," Baker said. "So I took him out for precaution. We'll see if it's any better tomorrow." Harper will be re-evaluated Sunday.

Carpenter, who recently returned from an oblique injury, left Saturday's game early, Fox Sports Midwest reports.

Seeing Carpenter leave his second game since being activated off the disabled list should be a concern, but manager Mike Matheny said he checked out fine with the medical team.

Belt went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI and two runs in a 7-1 victory over the Nationals on Saturday.

The first baseman doubled in a run during the fifth then smashed a solo bomb in the ninth. Belt has recorded two three-hit games already this month. He is hitting .287 with 13 homers, 55 RBI and 53 runs in 373 at-bats.

Buxton is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, according to Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Buxton went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts over his last two games, so he will be held out Saturday in favor of Eddie Rosario, who homered Friday night and is 8-for-16 this month.

Pederson is out of Saturday's lineup against the Red Sox.

Pederson has played in the last 13 games, but will start Saturday's game on the bench as Enrique Hernandez gets the nod in center. After homering in three consecutive games to close out July, Pederson has cooled off, going just 2-for-11 since then.

McCutchen went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and his fourth stolen base Friday.

Following a three-game benching to unplug, the center fielder attempted two stolen bases with head-first slides -- an indication of his freshness (he returned to first base following a foul ball on the other attempt). McCutchen is still trying to find his way at the plate, however. He struck out looking with a runner on third base and one out in the eighth inning of a one-run game.

Miller went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in a 6-2 loss to the Twins on Friday.

The displaced shortstop blasted his 20th round-tripper of the season in the sixth off Ervin Santana, his third straight game with a home run. Miller has apparently taken the news of his position switch due to the arrival of Matt Duffy to heart, as he's hit safely in four straight and has five RBI over his last three contests.

Soler (hamstring) hit a three-run homer in his return to the lineup Friday.

Soler's home run came in his first plate appearance in nearly two months. It's been a disappointing season for the talented youngster, but he survived the trading deadline and should be a valuable part of the Cubs' outfield rotation during the last two months and postseason.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a double in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Mets.

Martinez is 5-for-9 (.556) with two doubles and one home run since his return from the DL on Tuesday and has now raised his batting average by 50 points (.245 to .295) since June 1. Suffice to say you need to get Martinez back into your lineup, stat.

Soler (hamstring) has been activated from the 15-day disabled list and he will bat sixth in the order Friday against Oakland.

After a nearly two-month absence due to a hamstring injury, Soler returns to the Cubs' lineup Friday. Manager Joe Maddon took advantage of the fact that the Cubs are playing in an American League park this weekend, which allows him to plug Soler in as the DH. Soler was slashing .223/.322/.377 with five home runs and 36 strikeouts over 130 at-bats prior to landing on the disabled list. The Cubs have yet to announce a corresponding move for activating Soler.