MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was able to play three innings Tuesday in his rehab debut for Class A Potomac, in the first step in his return from a knee injury. Harper went 1 for 1 with a walk, and was picked off at second after a double.

Harper will ramp up his workload in the coming days, but the team does not expect him to be ready to return by the start of a weekend series with the Mets. Manager Davey Johnson told MLB.com he hopes Harper can be back with the team by the start of a series against the Brewers next Monday. 

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he's hoping Bryce Harper can return next week. 

Harper will play in his first rehab game Tuesday. He's recovering from a knee injury, and hasn't played since May 26. Johnson said he thought Harper could return for the upcoming series against the Brewers. That series begins July 1. 

Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will hit second and play left field during his first rehab game Tuesday.

Harper is playing at Class A Potomac. He is still the youngest player on the team's roster, despite already establishing himself as a major-league regular. Harper will not speak to reporters before or after the game, so he will not give any updates about his health. 

Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats. He's been out since May 26 with a knee injury.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley improved his batting average with runners in scoring position to .357 (20 for 56) with a two-run single in the sixth inning Monday against the Orioles. 

"He doesn’t change his approach," Indians manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "He doesn’t try to do too much. He just stays with his same approach and he’s a good hitter. If anything, maybe his concentration is unbelievable. You don’t see him over-swing very often."

Heading into Monday's game, Brantley led the AL with a 91 percent contact rate. Brantley was also putting balls in play at a 79 percent rate, which was eighth-best in the AL, and his 11.6 percent strikeout rate was 10th-best in the league.

"He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do, man," outfielder Nick Swisher said. "He’s hit in every slot from one through nine. And he’s such a pro hitter, man. To be able to have a guy like that, that Tito can bounce up and down the lineup to protect certain guys, obviously he’s shown his worth on this squad for sure."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley had another big game against the Orioles Monday night in a 5-2 win.

Brantley drove in a career-high-tying four runs in the game. He's done that three times in his career.

Brantley hit his fifth home run of the season in the eighth inning for a two-run shot off Darren O'Day. He finished 2 for 4 and is batting .278 on the year.

The speedy outfielder, who stole two bases in his last game, has hit in four of his last five appearances. He's up to 37 RBI with 32 runs scored and seven steals.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at High Class A Potomac, CSN Washington reports. Harper took batting practice without issue Monday and so the club decided to expedite his rehab assignment. He is expected to return to the Nationals by June 30 at the latest. He has been out with left knee bursitis since late May.

The Giants have recalled reliever George Kontos from Triple-A Fresno, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Kontos is appealing his three-game suspension for hitting Andrew McCutchen on June 12. As such, Kontos will be eligible to pitch in relief for San Francisco on Monday. Kontos owns a 5.96 ERA in 29 2/3 innings in relief for the Giants this year.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter accounted for his team's only run in a 2-1 loss Sunday against the Rangers with a solo home run off Nick Tepesch in the sixth inning. Carpenter finished 2 for 3 with one walk.

Carpenter has hit safely in his last five games, batting .474 (9 for 19) with one home run, two doubles, two RBI, two walks and four runs. It comes on the heels of Carpenter batting .115 (3 for 26) over a seven-game stretch from June 11-18.

Despite his mid-June slide, Carpenter is batting .349 (30 for 86) with two triples, two home runs, four doubles and nine RBI in 21 June games.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is expected to begin his rehab assignment this week, according to The Washington Post. 

Harper took batting practice Sunday, and his knee responded well. He's planning on working out at Nationals Park Monday and Tuesday, and could head to Class A Potomac Wednesday. Harper is hitting .287/.386/.587 in 150 at-bats. 

Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter continued his barrage on major-league pitching Sunday.

Carpenter performed well on a national stage, hitting his sixth home run. Carpenter also added a single and a walk. He finished 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. He's on a short hot streak, collecting nine hits over his last five games. Carpenter has raised his slash line to .322/.403/.472 in 286 at-bats.