MLB Player News

Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter went 3 for 4 with two runs atop the lineup in Tuesday's win over Washington.

With Jon Jay out, Carpenter was given leadoff duties and performed admirably. He doubled twice to go with a single to push his line to .276/.345/.461.

Even though we are nearing the end of the first month of the season, players have accumulated a small enough number of at-bats that a few hits could still make a huge difference to their stat line. Brandon Belt provides a classic example of this phenomenon.

Returning from a three-day absence from the Giants' starting lineup on Wednesday, Belt is primed to improve upon his modest start to the season. He is currently batting just .222, even though he has been smacking line drives at a high rate. Of the 16 liners he has smashed, only nine have become base hits. That number of line drives typically produces two or three additional hits, and if you add three hits (some of which could be for extra bases) to Belt's stat line, his average stands at .270 instead.

If you're thinking about dropping Belt, give him another chance. Not only did he deal with an illness early in the season, but he appears to have suffered from some bad luck at the plate as well.

After going 3 for 3 in a pair of appearances off the bench the last two days, Giants first baseman Brandon Belt is back in the lineup Wednesday against Arizona, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Belt hit a walk-off RBI single Monday night and a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning Tuesday night. He's still hitting just .222/.261/.317, but the three hits rose his OPS a whopping 117 points from where it was April 19, his last start (.461 to .578).

Joaquin Arias moves back to the bench as a result.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hand) is itching to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, which now could begin Thursday. Cespedes is still on track to be activated for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt provided heroics off the bench once again Tuesday against Arizona, as he went 2 for 2 and hit a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning. 

Belt was hitting just .183/.227/.233 after April 20, his last start, but his three hits in three at-bats off the bench since (he also hit the game-winning single as a pinch hitter Monday) have elevated his line to .222/.261/.317. It still isn't impressive, but it shows just how much a tiny hot streak can impact rate stats at this point of the season.

After going 0 for 3 earlier in the day, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton bounced back with a solid performance in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Twins at Target Field.

Stanton drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the second and singled in one more in the eighth. He also added a double and finished 2 for 4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI in an 8-5 victory.

Stanton has gone 4 for 12 with three runs scored and three RBI in his last three games. He is hitting .200/.333/.255 and has yet to hit one out of the park through his first 55 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt only received one plate appearance Monday, but made it count. 

Belt hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Belt took a Tony Sipp slider to center field, scoring Andres Torres for the game-winning run. Belt has seen his playing time cut recently due to an early season slump. Belt is hitting .197/.239/.246.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes participated in batting practice Monday for the first time since going on the shelf, MLB.com reports. His injured left hand appeared to be a non-issue. 

Cespedes is expected to continue taking swings in Boston before he begins a two-day rehab stint with Triple-A Sacramento Friday. That should put him on track to return to the A's Sunday, when he's eligible to come off the disabled list. 

"If things go well here," manager Bob Melvin said, "we'll get him a couple of games Friday and Saturday. I'm probably getting ahead of myself, but to be here taking batting practice certainly is a step in the right direction."

Dodgers outfield prospect Joc Pederson was named Southern League player of the week Monday. Pederson hit .407 (11 for 27) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, seven runs, four walks and three stolen bases in seven games from April 15-21.

After opening the season hitless in the first two games (0 for 7), Pederson has hit safely in his last 15 games. He's batting .318 with a .370 on-base percentage, .682 slugging percentage and 1.052 OPS through 17 games. He also has two triples, five doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI and six stolen bases.

Pederson is considered a top 5 prospect in the Dodgers' system by MLB.com (No. 3) and Baseball America (No. 4).

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will take a few swings during batting practice Monday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Cespedes is hoping to go on a rehab assignment this weekend. He's eligible to be activated from the disabled list Sunday. Cespedes has been sidelined with a hand injury.