MLB Player News

Mets manager Terry Collins said before Monday's game that Wilmer Flores won't be moved to the outfield, ESPN New York reports. Flores is currently serving as the team's third baseman with David Wright injured, and he could also see time at second base eventually.

Flores is 6 for 23 with one home run and nine RBI in six games since joining the Mets.

The Phillies are unsure if first baseman Ryan Howard will return to the team this season, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reports. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday that Howard has lost 15 pounds, and Howard has yet to begin hitting at the team's spring-training facility, sticking instead to conditioning.

Howard, who has been out since July 5 due to a meniscus tear, has hit .266/.319/.465 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 286 at-bats.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman contributed a three-run homer during Sunday's 9-4 win against the Marlins. Freeman, who has 14 home runs, added his 21st double, walked twice and scored twice.

Freeman has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games. He's batting .386 (22 for 57) with two doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI in that span.

Mets rookie infielder Wilmer Flores managed an RBI in a fourth straight game Saturday against the Diamondbacks and tied a career-high with three RBI. Despite his recent surge, Flores admitted he's not fully relaxed five games into his MLB career.

"I'm still shaking a little bit, but I try to calm down myself a little bit," Flores said, per ESPN. "I think it's working."

Despite having eight RBI in five games, Flores is batting just .211 (4 for 19). Though, he has struck out only once, which manager Terry Collins likes to see.

"He doesn't strike out. I mean, I'm sure he will, but he puts the bat on the ball," Collins said. "We were sitting there tonight. And, of course, you can hear people yelling. He's hitting .167 [before a two-run single in the eighth]. You look up and he's got 18 at-bats and six RBIs. A lot of guys on this team wish every 18 at-bats they had six RBIs. Now he's got eight. 

"We said, we know his ceiling is high offensively. You feel comfortable when he's up there, because you know he's going to put the bat on the ball."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt homered Friday during a 5-4 win over the Mets. His 27th homer of the season won the game in the bottom of the ninth in walk-off fashion.

Goldschmidt walked twice during the game and finished 1 for 3 with two strikeouts. He's batting .299 on the year for Arizona.

Goldschmidt has gone 8 for 28 (.286) over his last eight games with four home runs and six RBI. He's also struck out nine times over that span with two stolen bases in four attempts.

Mets manager Terry Collins told Newsday he'd like to see infielder Wilmer Flores play second base during his stint in the majors. He has only two hits in his first 11 at-bats since joining the club on Aug. 6.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores made a big impact in just his second major-league game Wednesday, as he drove in three runs in a 5-0 win over the Rockies.

Flores hit a three-run double in the eighth inning that ultimately provided the Mets with little more than insurance runs. He also scored earlier in the game after singling in the second inning, eventually finishing 2 for 4 with three RBI and one run scored. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not in the team's starting lineup Wednesday.

Rizzo has been hot lately, clubbing four home runs in his last six games. He'll be replaced at first by Cody Ransom. Rizzo is hitting .240/.333/.451 in 421 at-bats. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt didn't have a hit Tuesday against the Rays, but stiill had a strong game. 

Goldschmidt failed to get a hit in his only at-bat, but walked in his three other plate appearances. Goldschmidt took it on himself to get to second base, picking up his 11th stolen base in the fifth inning. He also scored two runs.

Goldschmidt is hitting .300/.392/.550 in 413 at-bats. 

Marlins infielder Donovan Solano continued his productive stretch Tuesday, as he drove in one run during a multi-hit effort in a 3-4 loss to the Pirates.

Solano went 3 for 4 in the game with one RBI, his fifth in five August appearances. He finished with three singles and one run scored in the loss. Solano is hitting .264 on the season and .263 in August, to go along with his five RBI.