MLB Player News

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 2 for 6 with a double, a solo home run, two runs and two RBI in his team's 12-1 win over the Rangers Tuesday.

The magical season continues for Blackmon, who is 7 for 24 with two home runs and six RBI in five May games. He has hit .358/.396/.610 with seven home runs, 24 RBI and seven stolen bases in 123 at-bats.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was a fixture on base Tuesday, going 2 for 2 with a double, two walks, one run and one RBI in his team's 3-0 win over the Mets.

Stanton also stole his third base of the season in the win. He's in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak in which he has multiple hits in three of his last four games. Stanton has hit .295/.381/.605 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI in 129 at-bats.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf has been making progress in his recovery from a strained oblique while playing in extended spring training games in Florida, MLB.com reports.

"He's getting at-bats," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I believe he's got four or five games under his belt."

Ruf has yet to play during the regular season due to the injury.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes rejoined the starting lineup Tuesday against the Mariners after getting a chance to rest a hamstring injury Monday. Cespedes was able to make a pinch-hit appearance Monday.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went 1 for 3 with a walk, an RBI and two stolen bases in his team's 4-2 win over the A's Monday.

After smacking an RBI single in the sixth inning, Miller stole both second and third base off Oakland starter Scott Kazmir. They were his first two steals of the season. Miller has hit .192/.238/.323 with three home runs and nine RBI in 99 at-bats.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.

Cespedes has been dealing with a hamstring issue over the last two weeks, though he was said to be over the injury late last week. Coming off a two-hit game Sunday, Cespedes has hit .260/.348/.490 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 100 at-bats.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter has at least one strikeout in five of his last six games and has totaled 32 through 32 games, which is well ahead of the pace he set last season with 98 strikeouts in 157 games.

"He has such a good eye and knows his zone (but) those borderlines are getting called right now," manager Mike Matheny said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "You see Carp fouling off tough pitches. I see him fouling off some pitches that he would normally square up a little more. Having a high pitch count isn’t necessarily a good thing when you’re getting pitches you can drive."

Carpenter, who is averaging 4.24 pitches per at-bat, is hitting .264 with a .314 slugging percentage after batting .318 with a .481 slugging percentage last season. Carpenter said he's still not comfortable yet with his swing.

"That’s the beauty of this game and especially my skill set -- even if my swing is just OK I can be productive too, get on base, take a walk, find a way to squeak a base hit in," Carpenter said. "That’s kind of been the story of my season so far. The swing has not felt great, yet. I’m trying to find a way to work counts, get good pitches and battle. The (swing) wasn’t great. It didn’t feel great. But in terms of being competitive, that’s one thing you can do everyday."

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continued his assault on baseballs Sunday against the Dodgers.

Stanton didn't waste any time going to work. He smashed a two-run shot in his first at-bat to the opposite field. Stanton was actually bested his second time up, striking out against Stephen Fife. He rebounded nicely in the sixth, leading off the inning with a solo shot on a 77 mph curveball. He walked in his final at-bat.

Stanton finished 2 for 3, with two runs scored and three RBI. He's hitting .285 with 10 home runs. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna went 2 for 6 with a three-run home run in his team's 9-7, extra-innings loss to the Dodgers Saturday.

Ozuna's home run cut the Dodgers' lead to 7-6 in the seventh inning before the Marlins tied the game in the ninth. He has hit .289/.339/.465 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 114 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was just 1 for 4 Saturday but hit his eighth home run in his teams' 3-1 win over the Braves.

Belt kicked off the scoring with a second-inning solo home run, and his offense would follow with two more solo home runs in the low-scoring affair. He has hit .252/.291/.495 while striking out 35 times in 111 at-bats.