MLB Player News

The Marlins have been tight-lipped about Giancarlo Stanton's hamstring injury, saying only that the best-case scenario is a return to the lineup in 2-3 weeks. Despite the lack of concrete information, Fantasy owners have no choice but to keep the slugger stashed, as Scott White notes in his Reality Check column.

White ranks Stanton as the No. 1 player currently on the disabled list. You don't need us to remind you that Stanton is an undroppable player, especially since he disappointed so badly prior to the injury. You have to hang on to Stanton for as long as it takes to recover, even as you grumble about how injury-prone he has proven to be in his young career. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen notched his second four-hit performance of the year Tuesday against the Mariners. McCutchen ripped a run-scoring double off of starter Aaron Harang in the first inning before singling in each of his next three at-bats.

He also stole his seventh base and finished 4 for 4 with an RBI and run scored in the 4-1 win.

McCutchen has hit safely in five of the last seven games and is batting .464 (13 for 28) with two home runs, one double and five RBI over that stretch.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters Tuesday that outfielder Bryce Harper will not be fined or suspended for his actions during Sunday's game against the Pirates. Harper was ejected that game after arguing a called third strike on a check swing with third-base umpire John Hirschbeck.

Harper is in the midst of a 2-for-22 slump and has not had a multi-hit game since April 27. He's hitting .312/.400/.633 with nine homers and 18 RBI through 109 at-bats. The 20-year-old carried a .284/.368/.523 line with four homers and 11 RBI through his first 109 at-bats last season.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring, has not started any baseball-related activities, MLB.com reports.

Stanton strained his right hamstring trying to beat out a swinging bunt attempt against the Cubs on April 30.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes had two of the A's three runs Monday in a 7-3 loss at Cleveland. Cespedes homered in the fourth inning and added a sac fly in the sixth. 

Cespedes went 1 for 3 with his sixth homer of the year. He's batting .243 with 18 RBI over 74 at-bats. He's hit in seven of eight games with three homers and 11 RBI since coming off the disabled list. 

J.D. Martinez is likely headed back to the Astros Monday, and even though he has a .244 average on the season, he could be a nice surprise going forward.  

Martinez had two home runs and a steal in 32 at-bats this season, and most of his production came in the nine games before he went on the DL. Martinez has a stellar minor-league track record, with a .333 average and .928 OPS in 1,228 at-bats. In each of his three minor-league seasons before starting 2012 with the Astros, Martinez hit double-digits in home runs and averaged 30 doubles despite getting more than 350 at-bats just once. 

While his major-league career so far has been somewhat nondescript, Martinez has the skill to make an impact in batting average, with a double-digit flirtation in home runs. Owned in 4 percent of leagues, he should at least be considered for a fourth or fifth outfield spot in AL-only format. 

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez is headed back to Houston.

Martinez was slated to start Monday's Double-A game in Corpus Christi, but was scratched about 30 minutes prior to the game. In 45 at-bats this season, Martinez is hitting .244/.271/.444.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf is starting to find his hitting stroke at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. After belting one home run in his first 20 games, Ruf has gone deep three times in his last seven games.

Ruf is also batting .355 (11 for 31) in his last seven games as well, raising his season average to .250. His hot streak began with a two-homer outing April 28. Ruf has nine doubles, 14 runs and 15 RBI in 27 games.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has been ridiculously productive with runners in scoring position in 2013. In 25 games where Cabrera has batted with runners in scoring position, he's batting .535 (23 for 43) with one double, four home runs and 32 RBI in those situations.

Cabrera's career slash line with RISP is .335/.428/.553/.981. He hit .356 with a .580 slugging percentage with runners in scoring position last season.

Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna continues to make a solid impression as he recorded a career-high four hits and reached base five times during Sunday's series finale against the Phillies.

Ozuna doubled in two runs in the first, reached on an infield single in the fourth, singled in another run in the sixth and doubled in the eighth. He also drew a walk and finished 4 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI in a 14-2 victory.

Ozuna has hit safely in his first six games in the majors -- the second-longest streak to begin a career with the Marlins. He has gone 10 for 23 with a home run and four RBI. His 10 hits over through six games are the most ever by a rookie in franchise history.