MLB Player News

Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Mets.

He got the Phillies on the board by leading off the second inning with a solo shot off Jose Quintana. Harper extended his run-scoring streak to seven games in the process, and over his last 13 contests he's slashing .279/.446/.651 with five of his 20 homers on the season along with one steal, 11 RBI and 13 runs.

Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and three total RBI in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Giants.

Martinez opened the scoring with a second-inning homer and added a two-run double a frame later. The designated hitter has been mashing lately with five homers and 12 RBI over his last six games. For the year, he's up to 31 long balls, 98 RBI, 58 runs scored, 25 doubles, a stolen base and a .270/.324/.573 slash line through 106 contests.

Pederson isn't in the Giants' lineup Saturday against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Pederson will take a seat Saturday as southpaw Clayton Kershaw prepares to start for Los Angeles. Mitch Haniger will fill in as San Francisco's designated hitter and bat fifth.

Kjerstad isn't in the Orioles' lineup Saturday versus the Guardians, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Kjerstad will get a breather Saturday after starting his major-league career 5-for-21 with two homers across his first eight games. Adley Rutschman will operate as Baltimore's designated hitter instead while James McCann starts behind the plate.

Cabrera (leg) is not in the lineup Saturday against the Athletics.

Cabrera played Friday after exiting the game Thursday due to a fouling a ball off his leg. He will get more rest Saturday with Andre Lipcius entering the lineup and Kerry Carpenter taking the designated hitter role.

Buxton (knee) went 1-for-4 during a rehab game Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul and will play again Saturday after a scheduled off day Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

If Buxton can stay healthy -- his last rehab stint was shut down after two games due to a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his right knee -- it's not clear if he'll be able to get enough at-bats to show he can be activated for the beginning of the playoffs with the minor-league season ending this weekend. Even if he does return in the postseason, the Twins seem unlikely to risk him in center field again, which would limit him to DH.

Rooker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-2 win over the Tigers.

Rooker has turned the power all the way up late in the season, homering six times over his last nine games. His blast Friday was his 29th of the campaign. The outfielder has added a .241/.325/.487 slash line with 65 RBI, 59 runs scored, three stolen bases and 18 doubles over 129 contests.

Alvarez said Friday that he has been limited to DH duties because of a right elbow issue, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Alvarez felt something in his throwing elbow while swinging a bat 10 days ago, which explains why he last played the outfield Sept. 13. His limitations have pushed Michael Brantley (soreness) and Chas McCormick to left field and often relegated Yainer Diaz to the bench. It's unclear when Alvarez might be able to cycle back into the mix in left, but at least his bat can remain active in the meantime. He hit a first-inning RBI double in the Astros' loss to the Royals on Friday.

Pederson is out of the lineup Friday versus the Dodgers.

Austin Slater will serve as the Giants' designated hitter and bat leadoff with left-handers Caleb Ferguson and Ryan Yarbrough both lined up to pitch for Los Angeles. Pederson has gone 8-for-43 (.186) this year against southpaws.

Cabrera (leg) is in the lineup as Detroit's designated hitter Friday versus the Athletics.

Cabrera made an early exit from Thursday's win over Oakland after fouling a ball off his leg, but the injury won't cost him any playing time. Cabrera has logged hits in six of his last seven games, going 8-for-26 with three RBI in that span.