MLB Player News

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner will require at least one more day to recover from a skin condition that landed him on the disabled list. He is out of the lineup again Thursday against Cincinnati.

Turner hasn't played since July 26.

About the only slumping Blue Jays hitter awoke from his slumber Thursday in style. Ryan Goins had been 1-for-17 entering play against Oakland, but his three-run homer in the second inning off Jesse Chavez proved to be the game-winner.

The blast, which gave Toronto a 4-0 lead, was only his second since June 14.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who has been out with a skin infection on his thigh since July 27, could be activated by the team as early as Thursday, per the Orange County Register. According to the Los Angeles Times, Turner said he had MRSA, a serious strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to antibiotics.

Turner's return to the lineup has been a little slower than normal to allow him to fully get back into baseball shape, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday was a day of "conditioning drills" for Turner, and that the team could activate him either Thursday or Friday. 

Turner has compiled a slash line of .323/.387/.563 for Los Angeles this season. 

After sitting out Tuesday's contest due to a sore left knee, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was back in the lineup for Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports The Washington Post.

Harper will hit third and play right field. He is hitting .343 with two home runs and five RBI in his last 19 games.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt hit a pair of solo home runs in Tuesday's win over Houston. 

Belt went deep twice in a game for the second time in the month of August. He also had two homers on the first of the month. 

In 10 games this month, Belt has seven home runs and nine RBI. Only three of his 10 August hits have been non-homers, all singles. 

Left fielder Michael Brantley was the walk-off hero for the Indians on Tuesday, as the defeated the Yankees 5-4 in extra innings. Brantley, who went 3 for 6 in the game, drove home the winning run with an RBI single in the 16th inning. It was Brantley's third career walk-off hit

Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler went 1 for 3, with a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over Milwaukee. 

Soler hit in his 10th straight game. He's hitting .382 over the streak. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to left knee soreness.

He was replaced in right field by Clint Robinson. Over his last 13 games, Harper is hitting .354 with two home runs and five RBI.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Miguel Cabrera is making progress from his calf injury and he could return for this weekend's series at Houston, reports MLive.com. Cabrera was able to take live batting practice and run the bases Tuesday.

"I thought he looked good," Ausmus said. "He didn't look much different than he would, I think, if he had hit a base hit to left and was running to first, rounding first and coming back. He didn't look like he was favoring anything. He didn't look like he was limping. So I was very encouraged."

The calf injury has sidelined Cabrera since July 4 and he is eager to return to the lineup.

"I want to play," Cabrera said. "Right now, if it was me, I'd play [Tuesday]. It's not my decision now. Let's see how it feels [Wednesday] and we can say something [Wednesday]."

While Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (hand) continues to hit in the batting cage, there is no timetable for the All-Star outfielder to face live pitching.

"He's progressing nice," manager Dan Jennings said, per The Miami Herald. "He'll continue to do baseball activities. You know, it's just about when he gets the strength back in that hand and wrist."

Stanton has missed more than six weeks due to a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

"He has been in the cages, starting to feel some strength come back," Jennings said. "So, hopefully, that's a positive side that we can move that clock forward some."