MLB Player News

Cardinals third base Matt Carpenter went 2 for 5 with a home run and four RBI in his team's 10-9 win over the Dodgers Friday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Carpenter knocked a solo home run in the sixth inning to reduce his team's deficit to four runs before the Cardinals exploded for eight runs in the seventh, three of which came on a bases-loaded double by the third baseman. He hit just eight home runs in the regular season while posting a .272/.375/.375 line in 595 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was one of the few bright spots on offense Friday.

Harper played a big role with the bat. In the fifth inning, Harper notched the team's first hit on an infield single. In his next at-bat, Harper led off the seventh inning with a mammoth solo home run. The hit was later ruled the longest home run of Harper's career. Despite the strong game, the Nationals couldn't mount a comeback. Harper finished 2 for 4, with one run scored and one RBI. 

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in his team's 7-6 loss to the Orioles in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

Martinez has opened up the ALDS with home runs in back-to-back games, but the Tigers still find themselves down 2-0 going into Sunday's Game 3 in Detroit. The outfielder came up with runners on the corners in the fourth and deposited the ball over the left-field fence, and his blast was followed by another by the next batter to put the Tigers up 5-2. His home runs are his only two hits in eight at-bats during the series.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Brad Miller's strong finish to the season means there is no clear-cut favorite for the starting shortstop job heading into spring training, according to MLB.com. Miller is expected to compete with Chris Taylor for the starting job next season.

"That's a great question and I don't know if I really have the answer right now," McClendon said. "I thought Taylor played extremely well defensively. I'm still intrigued about what Miller is capable of doing from an offensive standpoint. I guess to answer your question, yeah, it's probably wide open."

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went hitless Wednesday against the Giants.

The entire Pirate offense was shut down by Madison Bumgarner, who allowed just four hits all night. McCutchen struck out, flew out and grounded out in three at-bats. He did reach base once, walking in the fourth inning. McCutchen hit .314/.410/.542 over 548 at-bats during the regular season.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt went 2 for 3 with two walks and three RBI in his team's 8-0 wild-card victory over the Pirates Wednesday.

Belt was on base when Brandon Crawford opened up the scoring with a fourth-inning grand slam, and the first baseman tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh on a pair of singles. Belt and the Giants face the Nationals in Washington Friday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Marlins president David Samson said even if the team can't sign outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a long-term deal, he is still expected to be part of the Marlins' plans next season, per The Miami Herald.

"He’s on this team [in 2015] either way," Samson said. "I can’t wait until after the season to sit down with Giancarlo and [agent] Joel Wolfe and talk about contract. We’re ready. We want him to be a Marlin well past his arbitration years.

"We hope that he believes in us and believes in Miami and believes in the direction of this team and recognizes that he has a chance to be the leader of a successful team for many years to come."

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told MLB.com the team plans to discuss a contract extension with outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who hit .260 with 22 homers and 100 RBI. Cespedes is owed $10.5 million next season, the final year of his contract.

The Royals activated infielder Christian Colon from the 15-day disabled list Sunday, and he is active for the team's regular-season finale against the White Sox.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley registered his 200th hit of the season Saturday night against the Rays. He singled in the fourth inning for his only hit of the night. He finished 1 for 4 in a 2-0 defeat.

Brantley had never collected more than 159 hits in a season until 2014. He is hitting .327 with 20 homers and 97 RBI over 611 at-bats.