MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman couldn't be put away Saturday, going 2 for 2 with one run and three walks in his team's 6-2 win over the Nationals.

Freeman has been an on-base machine in the early-going, recording seven hits in 15 at-bats while also drawing six walks. He's also hit for power, recording one double Saturday to go with two homers from earlier in the week. Freeman is well on his way to posting similar numbers to his breakout 2013 campaign.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores has been sent back to Triple-A Saturday.

Flores was called up April 2, and only spent a few days in the majors. He'll likely be up again at the first sign of injury. The team activated Jonathon Niese from the disabled list, which is likely why Flores was demoted. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has been hot to start the season, as he hit safely for the sixth straight game to open the season Thursday against the Giants.

Goldschmidt hit his first home run of the season Thursday, as he went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two driven in. His two-run homer gave the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead in the first inning, but they would go on to lose, 5-3.

Goldschmidt is hitting .423 through six games, and has extended his hitting streak to 25 games dating back to last season. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the season Wednesday.

After striking out against Robbie Ross in the first, Howard was able to take a slider out to center field in the top of the third. Howard struggled in the game otherwise, striking out and lining into a double-play in his final at-bat. Still, it was encouraging to see Howard take a left-hander deep.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit his first home run of the season in the 12th inning Wednesday to break a 2-2 tie in his team's 16-inning loss to the Pirates.

Rizzo was 0 for 6 in his first two games heading into the 12th inning but came through with a clutch home run in the pressure situation. Unfortunately, the Pirates were able to tie things up in the bottom of the 12th before going on to win in the 16th inning. Rizzo, who finished the game 1 for 5, is looking to improve upon last season's .233/.323/.419 line.

The Mets made a few roster moves Wednesday. They recalled infielder Wilmer Flores and pitcher Kyle Farnsworth from Triple-A Las Vegas, while taking pitcher Ryan Reid off the 40-man roster.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman bounced back from a hitless debut in a big way Tuesday socking two home runs to lead the team to a 5-2 win over the Brewers.

Freeman reached base four times, after going 0 for 4 in the opener. He hit a pair of solo home runs, in the sixth and eighth innings, and added a single as he finished the game 3 for 3 with two runs and two RBI.

Freeman signed a massive extension this offseason, and is off to a good start in his attempt to live up to it.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg made some changes to his lineup Tuesday against the Rangers with left-handed starter Martin Perez on the hill, which included moving slugger Ryan Howard to the fifth spot in the lineup. It's the first time he hasn't hit cleanup since June 29, 2008, per MLB.com.

Howard has hit .276 with a .625 slugging percentage, .980 OPS, 11 doubles, 26 home runs and 65 RBI in 70 career games batting fifth.

The Mets announced Tuesday infielder Wilmer Flores and reliever Kyle Farnsworth will be in New York Wednesday. Both players could be recalled from the minors with second baseman Daniel Murphy on a paternity leave and closer Bobby Parnell sidelined due to an elbow injury.

Marlins third baseman Ed Lucas had a bittersweet day Thursday, but the bitter outweighed the sweet.

Hours after being told he made the team, he was hit by a pitch on the left hand. It has since been diagnosed that he sustained a non-displaced fracture.

The injury will result in Donovan Solano, whom Lucas beat out for the job, returning to the major league team and serving in that role, per MLB.com.