MLB Player News

Marlins third baseman Martin Prado was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Nationals, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Prado was initially slated to serve his usual third base duties and bat third, but a late lineup change has Derek Dietrich sliding over the third with Marcell Ozuna now in the lineup instead. It's unclear exactly why the change was made, but further news on the situation should become available.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is not in the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Ozuna has been receiving regular starts in the outfield, but will get his second day off in five games Friday. Ichiro Suzuki will get the start in right field, batting seventh.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (hand) has put his rehab on hold due to an "abnormal amount" of scar tissue in the area where his hamate bone was removed, the Miami Herald reports.

Stanton took batting practice earlier in the week and visited with a hand specialist after he continued to have trouble with the strength of the wrist. The scar tissue could reportedly impact his siwng for the entirety of the offseason, so despite Stanton's optimism, he is extremely unlikely to return before the close of the season. For now, his 2016 prospects are not in jeopardy, but it will be important to track Stanton's rehab as we move into the winter.

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler (oblique) will be available for the game Thursday against Pittsburgh, per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago.

He is not starting, but after helping Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach win the Carolina League championship, he is ready to help the Cubs down the stretch. Look for him to get back in the lineup playing right field sometime this weekend.

Jorge Soler (oblique) will join the Cubs in Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reports.

He is not in the Cubs' lineup for Thursday's game, but he will presumably be activated and inserted into the lineup this weekend. Soler should get the nod most days in right field going forward.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the lineup Thursday against the Cubs.

The star center fielder's average dipped below .300 after he struck out four times in Wednesday's game. A game that bad for a player of McCutchen's caliber is pretty rare, so manager Clint Hurdle obviously felt he needed to give him the day off.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. An 0-for-4 showing in Tuesday's game extended Cabrera's hitless streak to 19 at-bats, the third-longest slump of his career.

Manager Brad Ausmus has decided to give Cabrera a day to sit back and observe, with Alex Avila inserted at first base. Cabrera will be afforded a bit of an extended rest with the team off Thursday.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha got quite familiar with the basepaths Tuesday against the host White Sox. He was 3 for 3 and reached in all six of his plate appearances.

Canha is playing every day for the A's and has been very solid since the beginning of August, hitting .302 with seven homers and 31 RBI in his last 149 at-bats.

If he is somehow still available in a league, Canha could make for a very nice grab for the final two and half weeks of the season. Canha is playing himself into a certain role for next year and his strong finish might make him a starter to open 2016.

Darin Ruf will get some additional starts at first base while Phillies teammate Ryan Howard (knee) is sidelined, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard had his knee drained Monday and is currently considered day-to-day. Ruf has already been starting against lefties, but he will now pick up some at-bats against righties until Howard can return.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (wrist) still has no specific timetable to return to action this season, the Associated Press reports.

He visited a hand specialist for another opinion on his broken left wrist this week, but the Marlins have yet to release a plan for Stanton's return to game action. He took batting practice on the field Monday, but should be considered out indefinitely.