MLB Player News

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is showing signs of breaking out of a slump, as he hit safely for the fourth game in a row Saturday against the Mets.

Stanton had just one hit in the game, but he made it count, sparking a sixth-inning rally with a two-run homer to right field. He ultimately finished the game 1 for 5, lowering his batting average to .278.

Stanton has seen his average fall from .329 over the last week, but is still hitting .278/.352/.567 with seven home runs and a major-league leading 29 RBI in 24 games.  

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is doubtful to return to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, MLB.com reports.

Cespedes suffered a hamstring strain Thursday and even though he said he wouldn't need a stint on the disabled list, it appears he'll be out through the entire weekend as he recovers. Cespedes has hit .238/.316/.464 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 84 at-bats.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will do some running before Saturday's game against the Astros, and he could be available off the bench, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Cespedes left Thursday's game with a hamstring issue and has been out of the starting lineup for a few days. He has hit .238/.316/.464 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 84 at-bats.

Sizzling Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon is 8 for 19 against left-handers this season, but that did not prevent his absence from the Saturday lineup against Dodgers southpaw Paul Maholm.

Blackmon has followed up an encouraging 2013 with a brilliant start this year. He boasts an MLB-best .398 batting average and is second with a .663 slugging percentage. He has five home runs, 17 RBI and 20 runs.

A visit to a hand specialist has spurred a scheduled MRI for Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, whose thumb ailment could be worse than first anticipated. He is out Saturday and will likely not play Sunday either, per MLB.com.

Harper sustained the injury sliding into third base on a triple Friday night.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was not in the starting lineup Saturday against the Astros. 

Cespedes is still dealing with a hamstring injury. He's considered day-to-day, and was able to take batting practice Friday despite the issue. Cespedes is hitting .238 in 84 at-bats.

Nationals slugger Bryce Harper was scheduled to visit a hand specialist Saturday morning to have his jammed thumb checked, per the Washington Post. But he is available off the bench for the game against San Diego and Matt Williams does not anticipate him missing more than a game or two.

"The early tests, anyway, are pretty good," Williams said. "X-rays are negative. There's some swelling there. We just want to make sure we knock it out."

Harper sustained the injury sliding into third base on a triple Friday night.

A thumb injury sustained Friday night has Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper out of the Saturday lineup against the Padres. His thumb is swollen, but Matt Williams said he will be available off the bench.

Harper jammed the thumb, but x-rays came back negative and he can be considered day-to-day.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper jammed his left thumb Friday night against the Padres. He underwent an X-ray after leaving the game, which came back negative.

Harper's thumb is swollen and it appears as if he'll avoid a stint on the disabled list. He is expected to re-evaluated again on Saturday, according to Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was locked in at the plate, but had his night cut short due to an apparent wrist injury, the Washington Post reports.

Harper lined a bases-clearing triple in the third inning, but injured his wrist diving headfirst into third base. Before leaving the game after four innings, Harper was 2 for 2 with a triple and four RBI. He is hitting .289 with one home run and nine RBI in 83 at-bats.

His status remains up in the air for Saturday's game against San Diego.