MLB Player News

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper left Wednesday's game in the sixth inning after possibly suffering an injury during an at-bat. Harper seemed to be in pain after checking a swing and failed to run out a ground ball later in the at-bat.

The team checked out Harper in the dugout, and manager Davey Johnson replaced him in right field, where Harper was starting with Jayson Werth out, with Roger Bernadina. Harper was 0 for 2 with a walk and a run before exiting.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter posted his eighth multi-hit performance in Wednesday's series finale against the Reds. He went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in the 4-2 win.

Carpenter doubled in his first two at-bats before singling home Allen Craig in the sixth.

The 27-year-old is batting .370 (10 for 27) in his last seven games with one homer and two RBI.

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter went 3 for 4 with two doubles in Wednesday's win over Cincinnati.

Carpenter scored a run and knocked another one in. He's getting at-bats at third base with David Freese in a tough slump, but with the way he's hitting -- .283/.349/.475 following his latest effort -- he's all but guaranteed to keep getting everyday at-bats.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit his seventh double of the season Wednesday.

Cabrera was one of the few bright spots on the club Wednesday. Cabrera had two of the team's six hits, and drove in one run. 

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna will start his second straight game Wednesday.

Ozuna had one hit in his major-league debut Tuesday. He'll bat fifth during Wednesday's game against Mets starter Dillon Gee. Ozuna was hitting .333/.383/.810 in 42 at-bats in Triple-A this year. He should get playing time as long as Giancarlo Stanton is on the disabled list. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes went 2 for 4 with a run scored and four RBI in Tuesday's win over the Angels.

Cespedes increased his RBI total to 14 despite an early season disabled list stint. He doubled and tripled to increase his slugging percentage to .509 despite a meager .228 batting average. Cespedes has now hit safely, scored and recorded an RBI in all three games since his return from the DL.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit his fourth home run of the season Tuesday against the Twins.

Cabrera is hitting .363/.436/.559 in 102 at-bats this season. His .559 slugging percentage, while incredibly strong, would rate as his lowest in the category since 2009. Given how he's performed in the past, it's safe to assume the home runs will eventually start coming in bunches.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was finally able to get his bat going Tuesday night against the Brewers. McCutchen, who had two hits in his previous 26 at-bats entering the game, had four hits in the 12-8 loss.

Three of his four hits were singles, including one in the first inning that scored Starling Marte. He also had a solo home run in the sixth -- his third of the year -- off starter Marco Estrada.

McCutchen finished 4 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored. He is batting .247/.308/.423 over 97 at-bats.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley hit his first home run of the season Tuesday against the Phillies, a sign that he has found his stroke. Brantley opened the season with one extra-base hit (double) in 50 at-bats.

But in the last nine games, Brantley has four doubles, a triple and a home run in 41 at-bats, with seven RBI. Brantley has improved his batting averag from .240 to .286, putting him right in line with preseason expectations.

Brantley has yet to steal a base, but he's productive otherwise. He is a useful AL-only Fantasy option, and he's starting to look intriguing in deeper mixed-league formats. 

An MRI showed Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring. Stanton said the best-case scenario is he will return to the lineup in 2-3 weeks.

"I've got to be able to walk a normal pace first," Stanton said, per The Palm Beach Post.