MLB Player News

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is switching things up a bit with Brad Miller, who normally plays shortstop shifting to the outfield, according to The News Tribune.

McClendon isn't worried about the adjustment for Miller.

"I don't think you're going to see Miller doing a lot of DHing," McClendon said. "He will DH a little bit, but not a lot. I don't think he’s going to have a problem fielding a ground ball on the infield. He knows how to do that. The biggest challenge right now is the outfield."

Miller lost his starting role at shortstop when the team called up Chris Taylor.

"I'm not too concerned about sticking a first base mitt on him and saying, 'Field a ground ball at first base and toss it to the pitcher.' I think he has the ability to do that."

Bryce Harper crushed a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday to lift the Nationals over the Braves.

"Right when I hit it, I knew it was gone," Harper said.

Harper has now hit six home runs in three games, one off the major league record set by Shawn Green in 2002.

"Certainly, we don't expect him to hit a home run every day," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "But he can get in streaks like this where he sees the ball very well."

He's also collected 12 RBI has posted a .667 avg. (8 for 12) over his three-game power surge.

Rockies outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Corey Dickerson are out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers, the team announced.

Gonzalez has started 10 of the last 11 games for Colorado and will be replaced by Charlie Blackmon in right. Gonzalez is hitting .198 in 91 at-bats this season. Dickerson has started 12 of the last 13 games for the team and will be replaced by Drew Stubbs in center. Rafael Ynoa will make his fifth start of the year in left field. 

The Rockies are currently the underdogs (+170) against Los Angeles.

Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners, the team announced. 

Vogt has started five of the last seven games for Oakland and is hitting .322 with seven home runs with 25 RBI in 90 at-bats. Josh Phegley will replace him behind the plate. Center fielder Sam Fuld will also get a day off with Billy Burns drawing the start in center. Burns is hitting .286 in 28 at-bats this season.

Ike Davis will also get a break as Mark Canha will draw the start at first base. Davis has started 13 games in a row for Oakland.

Ryan Howard is not in the Phillies' lineup for Saturday's game. The first baseman will be rested for the fifth time this year. 

Replacing him at first is Darin Ruf, who started the last three games in left field. Ben Revere, who had been starting in right for the last three, switches back to left, where he started 19 games. Jeff Francoeur returns to right.  

Dodgers rookie outfielder Joc Pederson is third in the National League with nine home runs. That included a streak where Pederson's last seven hits were all home runs. 

"We didn't know we were going to get this much power," manager Don Mattingly said, per the Los Angeles Times. "Obviously the power is there, but to get it this early..."

Despite the power surge, Mattingly isn't concerned that Pederson will get cocky or start swinging for the fences. There are plenty of veterans in the clubhouse to keep him focused. 

"I think we have enough people around here to keep him thinking the right way," Mattingly said. "He's a guy who's trying to hit the ball hard somewhere. If he hits it, it usually goes."

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 9-3 loss to the Twins Friday.

Brantley hit a shot to center field in the eighth inning, but with his team down 8-2 by the team he came to the plate, his homer didn't affect the final result. In the midst of an eight-game hitting streak, Brantley owns a .337/.400/.535 line with three home runs, 15 RBI and four stolen bases in 86 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 4 for 5 at the plate during Friday's 6-0 win.

The four hits consisted of three singles and one double. Belt also scored a run and struck out once. Over his last six games, Belt is 12 for 21, but he only has two extra-base hits and one RBI during that span.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had another huge game in Friday night's 9-2 win over the Braves. 

Harper went 3 for 4 with two home runs, a single and five RBI. That gives Harper five home runs in the past two games. He hit three homers against the Marlins on Wednesday. Harper has now hit 10 home runs in 29 games. 

Prior to this two-game outburst, Harper had totaled five homers through 27 games. He's since doubled his output and is 6 of 8 in these last two games.

Harper now holds a slash line of .284/.426/.627. 

Alcides Escobar returned to the Royals' starting lineup on Friday. Escobar was activated from the 7-day disabled list earlier in the day. He will play shortstop and lead off. 

Christian Colon, who started all seven games that Escobar missed, moves to third base to replace Mike Moustakas, placed on the bereavement list earlier in the day. It's the first start Moustakas has missed this season.

Colon will bat ninth.