MLB Player News

Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon, who has spent most the season tearing up opposing pitchers, has finally slumped and is out of the lineup Saturday against Atlanta left-hander Mike Minor.

Blackmon has just seven hits in his last 36 at-bats as his average has dipped from .355 to .322. He has not had an extra-base hit since May 10.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton put together his third multi-homer game of the season Friday, in a 9-5 loss to the Brewers.

Stanton clubbed a pair of home runs in the game, though neither came with runners on base; he was joined by Garrett Jones, who also hit two solo home runs. Stanton went 2 for 4 in the game, with two RBI and two runs scored thanks to his home runs.

Stanton is off to the best start of his career, after struggling through an injury-plagued 2013 season. He is hitting .314/.404/.616, ranking fourth in the NL in OPS, while also leading the league in home runs (14) and RBI (47) in 49 games.  

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna homered for the second straight game Thursday against the Phillies. After hitting a grand slam Wednesday, Ozuna clubbed a two-run homer off Cole Hamels Thursday.

After being mired in a 8-for-57 slump to begin May, Ozuna is 4 for 8 (.500) in his last two games. He has two home runs, seven RBI and four runs since Wednesday.

 Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna showed real signs of breaking out of his slump Wednesday, as he played a big part in a 14-5 win over the Phillies.

Ozuna, who entered the game hitting just .140 in the month of May, drove in five runs while going 2 for 4. He brought in four of those runs with a grand slam, his seventh home run of the season and first since May 3.

Ozuna is hitting .255/.301/.416 in 161 at-bats on the season. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen put together his second multi-hit game in a row Wednesday, in a 9-8 win over the Orioles.

McCutchen, who went 2 for 3 and reached base three times Tuesday, was on base three times yet again Wednesday. This time, he went 3 for 5 with two doubles, one RBI and a pair of runs scored.

McCutchen is now hitting .317/.436/.488 on the season, with 21 RBI and 23 runs scored in 44 games.   

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna was hitting well over .300 after the first month of the season, and the 23-year-old seemed to be figuring himself out after an up-and-down rookie season.

Unfortunately, the month of May has brought back the bad side of his inconsistency, as he entered play Wednesday against the Phillies hitting just .140. A big part of his step back has been an inability to make contact; after striking out 21 times in 100 at-bats in April, he has already whiffed 22 times in 57 trips in May.

"He goes through spurts where he's too aggressive, and then he's too patient," manager Mike Redmond told MLB.com Wednesday. "He will take some fastballs and swing at some breaking balls, which happens with a lot of young guys. The big leagues are a monster."

Ozuna is down to a .687 OPS in 44 games this season, after posting a .693 number as a rookie. He does already have 23 RBI and six home runs, in 44 games, after hitting three longballs in 70 games last season. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf may not be with the team long, after being called up Wednesday from Triple-A.

Ruf, who replaced Cliff Lee on the active roster, could go right back down when Lee's spot in the rotation comes up again Saturday. The team has not made a decision on that at this point, but will have to before Saturday.

"He could be here for three months or three days," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're not sure yet."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley caught fire Wednesday, going 4 for 7 with three RBI, two runs and two stolen bases in his team's 11-10 win over the Tigers.

Brantley knocked in two runs on a second-inning single and one more on a single in the 13th to tie the game at 10-10 before his team went on to win on a walkoff balk. He has hit .302/.370/.523 with nine home runs, 36 RBI and six stolen bases in 172 at-bats.

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez followed up his first home run of the season Monday with another blast Wednesday, going 2 for 5 with two walks, one home run and three RBI in his team's 11-10 loss to the Indians.

Martinez has been extremely hot over his last three games, going 5 for 10 with a double, two home runs and four RBI. The offensive surge gives him a .267/.333/.489 line with two home runs and 10 RBI in 45 at-bats.

Indians left fielder Michael Brantley has emerged as a power hitter this season for the first time in his career, but not by changing his swing or approach. The result is that he appears destined to represent the team in the All-Star Game.

An injury to Jason Kipnis and lack of production from others in the lineup have forced Brantley to take over the third spot, but he has continued to thrive. His nine home runs this season is just one short of the career-high he set last season. He is also on pace for about 125 RBI - not bad considering his previous best was 73. He has also fanned just 16 times in 165 at-bats.

"It's fun to watch," Terry Francona told MLB.com when asked about Brantley's increased power numbers. "I think his base is stronger - his legs. As good hitter get to know themselves throughout the league, sometimes that evolves into more productiom. ... I don't think you see him selling out to hit home runs. It's just balls that maybe used to be doubles, he's starting to drive over the fence, which is great to see."

Brantley, who signed a four-year extension with the Indians in February, owns an impressive stat line of .291/.362/.515.