MLB Player News

Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson was not in the lineup for Thursday's contest at the Chicago Cubs, reports MLB.com.

He was replaced in center field by Enrique Hernandez, who will also bat first. Over his last eight games, Pederson is hitting .208 with two home runs and four RBI.

The Dodgers are the underdogs (+128) at Chicago on Thursday.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper played a key role in Wednesday's extra-inning win against the Braves, as he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning after getting on base via a one-out double.

However, after the game, it was revealed Harper sustained an injury to his right leg as he slid awkwardly into second base on the double.

"It was a cramp when he went into second," Nationals manager Matt Williams said, per MASNsports.com. "Standing there it got a little bit better. He told me he could score if there was a base hit. So, it subsided a little bit, we'll see how it acts when he wakes up in the morning.

"Doc'll take a look at him, trainers will take a look at him when we get back in there and we'll see what we got."

Harper, who went 2 for 5 with one RBI, downplayed the issue.

"I just felt a cramp," Harper said after the game, per MLB.com. "I just got done working out, so I haven't even gotten treatment yet. But, pretty much just a cramp."

He is batting .375 (27 for 72) with six doubles, six home runs, 15 RBI, 11 runs, 10 walks, 11 strikeouts and one stolen base in 20 June games.

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon went 2 for 4 in Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

The multi-hit performance extended Blackmon's hitting streak to eight games.

Over his last eight games, Blackmon is hitting .419 with 13 hits, four doubles and 10 RBI.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner hit his 10th home run of the season in a win against the Cubs on Wednesday.

Turner hit a three-run blast in the third inning and put his team in a prime position to take the win.

Turner's been on an offensive tear over the last few weeks, hitting .383 with five home runs and 15 RBI over his last 16 games.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton continued his MVP-caliber season during Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals.

Stanton went 3 for 6 with a solo home run, his league-leading 27th blast of the season.

Over his last 21 games, Stanton is hitting a mind-boggling .370 with 12 home runs and 23 RBI.

If Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez isn't going to slug his team to victory, he's at least going to put a dent in the stat line of an opposing pitcher.

Martinez mashed his fourth home run in three games Wednesday and wrecked the shutout of Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco in the process. His towering two-run blast in the seventh inning landed over the wall in left field.

He is batting .350 (14-for-40) over his last 10 games with a whopping 16 RBI. He now has 17 homers and 43 RBI on the year.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter has returned to the starting lineup for Wednesday's matchup with the Marlins. Carpenter was out of Tuesday's game with back tightness, but he is able to give it a go on Wednesday.

He is 4 for 14 lifetime against Marlins starter Mat Latos.

Twins rookie center fielder Byron Buxton was moved to the leadoff spot for the second time in three games Wednesday against the White Sox.

Monday was the first time since his promotion from the minors he hit leadoff. Buxton stepped up in a big way, going 3 for 5 with three runs.

Buxton has hit safely in his last three games, going 5 for 11 (.455) with one double, three runs, three strikeouts and one stolen base.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Indians for just the second time in 72 games this season. The only other time Cabrera wasn't in the starting lineup was May 25.

“Even Superman needs a day off,” manager Brad Ausmus said, per MLB.com. “It was just the timing. It’s a 12 o’clock game. There’s not many pitchers I look at the stat sheet and go, ‘Well, Miggy doesn’t hit him.’ I think David Price is the one he doesn’t hit, and he’s on his team. You never want Miggy out of the lineup, but you have to have a little bit of vision.”

Andrew Romine started in place of Cabrera, who has totaled multiple hits in three straight games. He has a .397/.494/.618/1.111 slash line in 19 June games. He also has three doubles, four home runs, 18 RBI, 14 runs and 13 walks this month.

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon went 1 for 2 with two walks in Tuesday's win over Arizona. 

Blackmon doubled, his twelfth of the year, scored once and drove in his 31st run. 

Blackmon has now hit in seven straight games. He's hitting .407 with 1.240 OPS over the streak.