MLB Player News

The Marlins recalled infielder Donovan Solano from Triple-A New Orleans, MLB.com reports. Solano struggled to hit for power with the Marlins, as he had a home run and two doubles in 30 games. However, he mashed six extra-base hits including two home runs in 17 games with New Orleans, where he was hitting .379/.411/.545 in 66 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was back in the starting lineup Sunday, but it does not appear as if his two-game mental break did much good.

Howard was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in a 6-1 loss to the Dodgers. He is 0 for 20 with seven strikeouts over his last three games, lowering has batting average to .264. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman connected for a three-run homer off Diamondbacks starting pitcher Trevor Cahill during Sunday's 6-2 win. It was Freeman's ninth home run and second in as many days.

Freeman finished 2 for 5 for his first multi-hit game in eight starts and his second in his last 12. Freeman hit .195 (8 for 41) with two home runs and five RBI in his last 12 games in June.

After getting two days off for a mental break, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard returned to the lineup as expected Sunday against the Dodgers. Howard enters play Sunday mired in a 0-for-14 slump in his last four games (three starts).

Despite the mini-slide, Howard is batting .298 (25 for 84) with a .536 slugging percentage, .922 OPS, two triples, three home runs, seven doubles, 11 runs, 12 walks and 15 RBI in 25 June games.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who went 2 for 5 with a walk and his 15th double in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Rangers, committed two errors -- one fielding and one throwing -- to give him 10 errors through 80 games.

Votto had just 12 errors over 269 games in his previous two seasons combined. His 10 errors lead all first baseman.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman snapped a 10-game homerless streak Saturday, in an 11-5 win over the Diamondbacks. 

Freeman opened the game with a two-run home run and reached base three times, despite the home run being his lone hit in three at-bats. He finished 1 for 3 with two walks, three runs scored and two RBI.

Freeman has just three home runs in the month of June, and eight overall in 259 at-bats. He is hitting .305 with an .839 OPS and 50 RBI on the season.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was out of the starting lineup Friday against the Dodgers, and he is not expected to return until at least Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Howard is 0 for 14 over his last three games since returning from a knee issue, and the team is trying to give him a mental break with the days off. He will still take part in fielding drills and batting practice on his off days.

Howard is batting .268 with a .789 OPS for the season, though those numbers have risen to .298 and .922 respectively in the month of June. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 5 with his seventh stolen base in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Nationals.

It was Goldschmidt's first steal since a two-steal game June 2. He is hitting .312/.386/.568 with 19 home runs and 67 RBI in 292 at-bats.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo doubled for a third straight game and added two RBI Wednesday against the Brewers. Rizzo has hit safely in six of his last seven games, batting .417 (10 for 24) with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBI.

Rizzo is turning the corner offensively after opening June mired in a 8-for-51 slump (.157) in his first 15 games.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard reached base once Tuesday against the Padres, in his return from a brief absence due to knee soreness.

Howard was hitless in four at-bats, but walked once in the game. He scored a run, in a 6-2 win.

Howard is hitting .278 on the season with an .832 OPS.