MLB Player News

Harper went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the Phillies' 12-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday.

Harper snapped a lengthy homer drought, going yard for the first time since Aug. 26 in Seattle. The fantasy stalwart has reached base safely in five of his last six games, adding to another strong campaign at the dish. Over 634 trips to the plate, he's slashing a .271/.386/.498 with 28 long balls, 83 RBI, seven stolen bases and 87 runs scored.

O'Hearn went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Saturday in a loss to the Cubs.

O'Hearn's long ball was huge at the time, as it turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead. However, the Pirates' bullpen couldn't hold the advantage, and two Chicago runs in the eighth inning led to a Cubs win. O'Hearn just returned from a six-week stay on the injured list Friday and went 0-for-2 in his first game back after entering late in the contest. He's expected to see action at first base and designated hitter for Pittsburgh down the stretch.

The Diamondbacks recalled Locklear from Triple-A Reno and placed him on the 60-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured right thumb.

Locklear was dispatched to Triple-A last month but was summoned back to the big leagues Saturday so the team could place him on the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Pavin Smith. The move effectively ends Locklear's season after slashing .278/.357/.444 with one home run, six RBI, eight runs scored, one stolen base and a 4:9 BB:K across 42 plate appearances in the majors. He posted an .871 OPS with 10 homers and 46 RBI at Reno.

The Diamondbacks selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Reno on Saturday.

Smith opened the season as the Diamondbacks' main designated hitter against right-handed pitching, but he slashed just .141/.236/.192 with two extra-base hits and six RBI across 89 plate appearances before being DFA'd in early July. With Reno, Smith hit .301 with a .925 OPS across 181 trips to the plate to earn another chance at the big-league level.

Young went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Saturday in a 12-2 victory over the Yankees.

Young capped the scoring in a big performance by the Mets' offense with his solo blast to right field in the ninth inning. It was his first homer since Aug. 14 -- a span of 24 games. Even during that power drought, Young swung the bat well, hitting .278 with 11 RBI and a 20.5 percent strikeout rate. He's at a .272/.333/.439 slash line on the season with nine homers, 45 runs, 38 RBI and three stolen bases through 98 contests.

If Sheets (foot) is able to return this season, he may be limited to working as a designated hitter and/or pinch hitter, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Sheets landed on the injured list Aug. 30 due to a left foot sprain. As of Sept. 8 he was still in a walking boot, and it's not certain that he'll be ready to rejoin San Diego before the end of the campaign. If Sheets does manage to make it back, he probably wouldn't be put in the field. Luis Campusano and Austin Hays have been getting most of the Padres' starts at DH of late, and Sheets could get occasional starts there while also serving as a bench bat.

Freeman (knee) will start at first base and bat second Saturday against the Marlins.

Freeman sat out the Dodgers' last two games while battling a knee injury, but he seems to be feeling well enough to play after a couple days of rest. The veteran first baseman has struggled at the plate since the beginning of September, going just 3-for-22 with nine strikeouts in seven games this month.

Olson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 6-5 extra-innings win over the Phillies.

Olson opened the scoring with a solo homer off the left-field foul pole in the first inning. It was the 32-year-old's first homer in 10 September contests, and he entered the game just 4-for-32 to open the month. On the year, he's slashing .249/.323/.506 with 38 homers, 82 RBI, 95 runs scored and four steals across 640 plate appearances.

Steer (wrist) was cleared Friday to begin range-of-motion activity, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Steer was examined in Arizona by a specialist, who cleared him to increase activity. "All is going really well," manager Terry Francona said. "He will begin more range of motion [exercises], start to get a bat in his hand." That's good news for Steer, but it doesn't guarantee he'll return before the end of the regular season. "The goal is we want him to have a normal offseason," Francona said. "We might be pushing it if we try to do it by the end of the season." The Reds are considering having Steer play in the Arizona Fall League, which is typically reserved for prospects.

Vargas started at first base and went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-1 win over the Rangers.

Vargas ignited a dormant offense in the fifth inning when the Diamondbacks scored four times. His ground-rule double produced the first of those four runs, and then Arizona went on to score another five times the following inning. It was his fifth consecutive start, four of which came at first base, as he and Tim Tawa share the position. Vargas is 6-for-20 (.300) over his five-start run.