MLB Player News

Although he did not homer on Sunday, Bryce Harper continued his hot hitting by going 2 for 4 with a double and RBI in the Nationals' win over the Braves.

Harper delivered an RBI double in the first inning to get the Nats on the board first.

Over his last four games, Harper is 12 for 16 (.750 avg.) with 13 RBI.

As Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper powers his way this weekend into the record books, Hall of Famer and former Nationals manager Frank Robinson discussed the progress Harper has made since being drafted in 2010, reports MLB.com. 

"It took him a couple of years to get his feet off the ground," Robinson said. "I think he now understands the pitchers in the league what they are trying to do to him. He made some adjustments. He is the real thing. I think you're going to see a lot of exciting things out of this young man for a lot of years."

Harper, this week, became the first player since Hee-Seop Choi (Dodgers) in 2005 to hit six home runs in three games.

The Mariners scratched shortstop Chris Taylor from Sunday's lineup. He's being given X-rays after being stepped on in Saturday's game, per Seattle's 710 AM radio.

Those X-rays showed that Taylor has a bruise above his pinky, but the injury should not keep the shortstop out for an extended period of time. 

Brad Miller will replace Taylor in the lineup. 

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.

"I talked with G four or five days ago, just planted the seed," manager Mike Redmond said, per MLB.com. "Looking at the schedule, this looked like it would be a good day. Not thinking otherwise."

Stanton has hit just .167/.233/.278 with one home run in 36 at-bats in May.

"With him, sometimes he will get out of his strike zone," Redmond said. "It happens with all hitters, not just him. Sometimes it’s good to just take a day, and let them sit back and relax. We’ve done that with a few guys. Give him a mental break, and get him back in there tomorrow. It’s tough to get him out of the lineup. He has the ability to hit a home run every time. But at the same time, too, we need him for the long haul. We need him fresh."

It's the first break for Stanton after starting each of the team's first 31 games in right field. Ichiro is getting the start in right field and batting third.

The Marlins are slight underdogs (-102) against the Giants in San Francisco Sunday.

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Sam Fuld gets his third start of the year in left field, batting eighth in the lineup. 

Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas wasn't in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game at Cleveland.

Torii Hunter moved from right field to replace Vargas at DH. It's his fourth start of the year there. Eddie Rosario replaces Hunter in right, batting seventh in the order. It's his third start in right this season.

The Twins are +145 money-line underdogs on the road. 

Among Marlins victories this year, their triumph Saturday night will not be the most memorable for slugger Giancarlo Stanton.

Stanton racked up four strikeouts for the first time this season and 11th time in his career. He reached base only on a walk leading off the eighth inning.

He now has 44 strikeouts in 31 games, putting him on pace for 235 for the year. That would break the all-time record set by Mark Reynolds in 2009.

It took Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna 27 games to blast his first home run of the season. It took him two more to hit his second.

Ozuna went deep again Saturday night, blasting off in the fourth to get his team off on the right foot in a win at San Francisco. He also walked and scored in the eighth.

He is 15-for-44 in his last 11 games with seven runs scored.

Athletics first baseman Mark Canha went 1 for 4 at the plate in Oakland's 7-2 loss to the Mariners on Saturday.

Canha did his only damage in the eighth inning when he ripped a Danny Farquhar pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run, his fith of the season. Canha is now hitting .258 with 15 RBI in 93 at-bats this season.

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."