MLB Player News

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is still experiencing swelling in his knee and is unlikely to be available either Wednesday or Thursday, even as a designated hitter in an American League park.

Harper is out Tuesday against the Orioles but is not expected to be placed on the disabled list. 

As expected, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was out of the lineup yet again Tuesday, as he continues to deal with bursitis in his left knee. He remains day to day as a result of the injury. 

The Nationals did not include outfielder Bryce Harper in the lineup Monday against the Orioles as he's dealing with a knee injury. Harper was pulled for a pinch runner after limping down the first base line in the seventh inning Sunday. 

Harper is considered day to day for the Nationals after an MRI showed no damage to his left knee. He has been diagnosed with bursitis, CSN Washington reports.

Harper has a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5 for 16 (.313) with a homer and an RBI. He's batting .287 on the season. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna stayed hot going 2 for 4 in a loss Sunday to the White Sox.

Ozuna's hits were singles, but he scored a run and had an RBI. Ozuna is hitting .304 through 92 at-bats, but has struck out 22 times, including once Sunday. It will be difficult for Ozuna to keep hitting for such a high average if he doesn't start making more contact.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was pulled for a pinch runner in Sunday's game against Philadelphia due to a knee injury, MASN reports.

Harper limped down to first base after a seventh-inning walk on the same left knee that has been bothering him of late. It doesn't look good for his chances to play Monday. Consider him day to day.

After managing just two multi-hit games in his first 14 appearances, Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has totaled 16 multi-hit games in his last 33 appearances, including five of his last seven games heading into Sunday against the Red Sox.

Brantley's batting average has gone from .240 to .316 in his last 33 games thanks to a .346 average in that span.

"He's got a really pretty swing," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "He's got a swing that doesn't need a lot of maintenance. By that, I mean there's not a lot of moving parts. As you get more at-bats and more experience and know the league, it wouldn't shock me if he hits for more power."

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (back) returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies.

Belt singled in the second and drew a walk in the ninth as he finished 1 for 3 in a 5-0 defeat.

Belt is hitting .300 (6 for 20) with one home run and one RBI in his last six games. He has a .253/.323/.432 slash line in 146 at-bats.

The Phillies had an open roster spot with Chase Utley on the disabled list Thursday, but a poorly timed slump cost Darin Ruf a chance to get back to the majors. Ruf is hitting .103 over the last seven games heading into play Friday.

The fact that Ruf can only play in the outfield or first base also hurt his chances.

"I think the better fit was someone who could play all over the field," assistant GM Scott Proefrock told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We’ve got two (interleague) games. It would be hard to find (Ruf) a place to play, and it probably wouldn’t be the right fit."

Ruf has a .772 on-base plus slugging percent at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with a .262 batting average, a career-worst mark. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was back in the starting lineup as expected Friday against the Rockies. Belt was held out of the starting lineup for the team's previous game Wednesday against the Nationals but appeared later in the game as a pinch-hitter. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera continued his torrid pace Thursday, homering for the fourth straight game. He has six home runs and 13 RBI over his last four games while going 9 for 15 with five walks.

Cabrera's .391 batting average and .701 slugging percentage lead all major-league players, and his .467 on-base percentage ranks second to Joey Votto. He's been hitless just twice in his last 34 games. He's the early favorite for 2013 AL MVP.