MLB Player News

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was left out of the starting lineup Friday against the Nationals for the first time in four games this season. Darin Ruf drew the start at first base with left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the hill.

Howard, who is batting .083 (1 for 12) through three games, is a career .224 hitter against lefties. 

Ruf, who made a third straight start Friday (started in left field previous two days), has no hits in seven at-bats this season.

Late in spring training, it was reported the Phillies were willing to pay $50 million of the $60 million remaining on first baseman Ryan Howard's contract in order to trade him.

However, two rival general managers told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman that they hadn't heard the Phillies were willing to pay that much of Howard's contract. One general manager said it was his belief the Phillies were only willing to pay $35 million to move Howard.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo heads into Friday's game against the Rockies having reached base safely in his last 16 games dating back to last season, which is the longest active streak in the majors, per the Chicago Tribune.

Rizzo has yet to record a hit in four at-bats this season, but he has a walk in each of his first two games. He also has one run, one hit by pitch and two strikeouts.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 1 for 4 with his first home run of the season in his team's 3-2 win over the Giants Thursday.

Votto came up with a man on base in the bottom of the sixth and his team down two runs, and his homer was able to tie the game. After the teams traded zeroes over the next few innings, the Reds were able to earn a win on a walkoff fielding error. Votto is 5 for 14 with one home run and four RBI after three games.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman drove in two runs in the team's 12-2 victory over the Marlins on Tuesday. Additionally, Freeman scored two runs on two doubles and a single in five at-bats.

The Braves placed outfielder Joey Terdoslavich (wrist) on the 15-day disabled list and pitchers Daniel Winkler (elbow) and Shae Simmons (elbow) on the 60-day disabled list.

Terdoslavich is dealing with a sprained wrist. Winkler is working his way back from last June's Tommy John surgery. Simmons will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Cubs announced the starting lineup for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals, with right fielder Jorge Soler slotted into the second spot of the lineup.

Soler spent most of his brief action in 2014 batting fourth or fifth, but he'll slot in between center fielder Dexter Fowler and first baseman Anthony Rizzo Sunday.

The full Cubs lineup Sunday: CF Fowler, RF Soler, 1B Rizzo, SS Starlin Castro, LF Chris Coghlan, 3B Mike Olt, C David Ross, SP Jon Lester, 2B Tommy La Stella.

Ross draws the start at catcher with former Red Sox teammate Lester on the mound. Manager Joe Maddon will bat the pitcher eighth, Olt and La Stella join Rizzo and Castro in the infield for the team's first game, with Arismendy Alcantara set to come off the bench.

Reds manager Bryan Price said that Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays will resemble what he'll likely use to start the regular season, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Billy Hamilton is batting leadoff and Joey Votto is hitting second. Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco and Marlon Byrd are third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the lineup. 

Price said the lineup could change against right-handed pitchers. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit two doubles in Thursday's 10-2 win over the White Sox. He was also responsible for driving in two runs off of those hits.

Goldschmidt, 27, is batting .292 in his career with 83 home runs and 302 RBI.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has hit just .171/.216/.343 with three home runs in 70 spring at-bats, but manager Ryne Sandberg is optimistic he's due for a good season, MLB.com reports.

"You know what?" Sandberg said. "He's put in the work. He's done everything that's been asked. Hopefully all of that will pay off in the season. He's in a good place as far as his stance. He's done a lot of extra hitting. I think he has more bat speed than he had all of last year. So I look forward to those things to click and I look for him to hopefully get off to a good start and a good season."

Howard hit 58 home runs in his first full season in the majors then went on to collect at least 45 home runs in each of his next three seasons through 2009. He hasn't been able to match that production since, failing to post an OPS over .800 in any of his last three seasons. Howard hit .223/.310/.380 with 23 home runs andn 95 RBI in 569 at-bats last season.