MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 3 for 4 with three runs scored in Tuesday's win over Philadelphia. 

Freeman put the Braves on top to stay with a two-run home run in the first, his fifth homer of the year. His two RBI gave him 14 this season. He imrpoved his average to .301. 

If you figure Marlins first baseman Michael Morse is upset with Mike Redmond for playing Justin Bour ahead of him lately, figure again. He completely understands.

Morse, after all, is batting just .183 with two home runs and eight RBI in 23 games. He has fanned 28 times, including in three of four at-bats Sunday. So never mind the two-year, $16 million deal he signed in the offseason.

"I'm always just about winning and I'm happy for anybody that gets a chance to play - especially [Justin] Bour," Morse told the Miami Herald. "He's swinging the bat awesome. ... Even if I was in there (Tuesday) I'd probably run into the manager's office and tell them, 'Better play that guy.'"

Bour has seven hits in 12 at-bats and homered Monday.

If the sight of Braves right-hander Shelby Miller on the mound doesn't snap Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard out of his 7-for-40 slump, perhaps nothing will.

Howard only has seven career at-bats against Miller, but he has certainly done plenty of damage. He has four hits, including three home runs and six RBI. He has also walked twice.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo slugged his fourth home run Monday night. No big deal there. He hit 32 last season.

But Rizzo also stole his seventh base in the loss to St. Louis. Big deal. That's a career-high and we're barely into May.

What is most intriguing is that Rizzo, who has never been considered a speed demon by any stretch, has all seven stolen bases in his last 15 games.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went 1 for 3 at the plate in Miami's 6-4 loss to the Nationals on Monday. Bour did his damage in the seventh inning when he ripped a Jordan Zimmermann pitch over the left field wall for a solo shot, his first of the season.

Bour is now hitting .583 on the year in 12 at-bats.

Marlins first baseman Michael Morse is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals, with Justin Bour drawing the start, according to the Miami Herald.

Morse will get his second day off in the last three after struggling at the plate early on in the year. Morse is hitting just .193 with two home runs and eight RBI in 88 at-bats. Bour is 6 for 9 with a double so far this season.

The Marlins are currently the underdogs (+170) against Washington Monday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was held out of Monday's lineup at Atlanta, reports The News Journal.

Howard is coming off a two hit, two RBI game in Sunday's win over the Marlins. The Phillies are facing left-handed pitcher Alex Wood in Monday's game. Howard is 0 for 4 in his career against Wood. Darin Ruf will start and bat fourth in place of Howard.

The Phillies are the underdogs (+150) at Atlanta on Monday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 2 for 4 at the plate in Philadelphia's 6-2 win over the Marlins on Sunday. Howard cracked his first triple of the season in the sixth inning when he took a Jarred Cosart pitch to deep center field, driving in Darin Ruf.

Howard credits his recent success at the plate to hitting coach Steve Harrison, according to Philly.com.

"It was a tough series. I had problems kind of getting my rhythm, getting comfortable in the box. It's a strange game, man. It's like one minute it's there, one minute it's not. But that third [at-bat], I found something."

Howard had three triples in the last two years coming into the contest and boosted his average to .193 on 83 at-bats.

"Those were good swings, real good swings," Sandberg said. "He took his aggression out on the baseball."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning during Sunday afternoon's 5-3 loss to the Brewers. 

This was Rizzo's first triple of the season. A year ago, Rizzo only recorded one triple for the entire year. 

Rizzo's triple to center field came on a first pitch from Jimmy Nelson and scored Dexter Fowler. Rizzo finished the game 1 for 4, which included striking out once. He now as a slash line of .321/.471/.513. 

Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard earned 10-and-5 no-trade rights Saturday, reaching 10 years of service time (and at least five with the same team).

Despite Howard's newfound no-trade rights, it's not believed that his status would affect a potential trade, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. His contract had already allowed him to block trades to all but nine teams.

"I don't think it's a big deal," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the effect of Howard's new rights on a potential trade. "It's a big deal for him, for two reasons: I think he should be recognized for [having] the most games played at first base in our franchise. That's a pretty awesome feat, No. 1. And No. 2, obviously he's been a long-standing member of this club and has had a great deal to do with the success."

Howard, a former Rookie of the Year and MVP, has hit just .177/.235/.380 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 79 at-bats.