MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is hitless in his last four games after going 0 for 4 in a 4-2 loss to the Pirates Thursday. Rizzo has made 17 plate appearances during his four-game skid and hasn't reached base safely once.

Rizzo's line has fallen to .256/.320/.489 with the slump, but he does have 10 home runs on the year. He'll try to stop his skid this weekend against the Reds.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto slugged his seventh home run Wednesday against the Mets.

Votto finished 2 for 3 with two walks, two RBI and three runs scored. He continues to dominate National League pitching as he now sports a .354/.484/.545 line.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman finished 2 for 5 with two RBI in Tuesday's extra-inning win over Minnesota.

Freeman's RBI single in the 10th inning won it for Atlanta. He also doubled in a run and scored a run. His line is up to .293/.365/.407.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard did not seem at all slowed Tuesday by soreness in his left knee that cost him the previous two games. Howard had just his fourth multi-RBI game in the month of May, to lead the Phillies to an easy, 7-3, win.

Howard went 3 for 5 with three runs driven in, before being replaced for a pinch hitter after his third single in the eighth inning.  

The cortisone injection Howard had in the knee appears to have helped, and he should be able to play through any lingering issue. He is batting .256 on the season, with 25 RBI. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, after missing the team's previous two games with left knee soreness.

Howard had a cortisone injection in the knee and hopes that he will be able to play through any lingering issues moving forward. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard rejoined the starting lineup Tuesday at Miami after missing two games with a knee injury. Howard enters play Tuesday mired in a 4-for-34 slump in his last nine games (eight starts).

"I guess if I blow out we’ll worry about that then," Howard said, per The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. expressed optimism Tuesday first baseman Ryan Howard isn't dealing with a major knee injury, despite it being the same leg he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.

"I think we have to be concerned any time our guys have any issues, but I don’t think it’s something that is so daunting that we’re panicking about it," Amaro told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "It’s something we have to be aware of and make sure he does his proper rehab to address it and make sure he’s OK. If there is a meniscus issue, it is repairable and there are some things he can do that can help alleviate some of the stuff he had."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was unavailable for Monday's game against the Marlins after having a cortisone injection in his left knee Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Howard is said to be day to day, though they are hopeful he'll be able to avoid the disabled list.

Howard underwent an MRI Monday and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said Howard had symptoms in his knee for a few weeks. Howard said the knee began bothering him more recently.

There is some speculation that his knee injury and the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series could be related.

“That’s the million dollar question right there,” Sheridan said. “For me, it’s like the old song: the foot bone is connected to the knee bone … to me the closed chain of the ankle relate to the knee, relate to the hip. They all play apart. So that’s a reasonable question. Whether that’s what’s happened, we don’t know.”

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was named National League Player of the Week Monday, MLB.com reports. He hit a major league-best .583 last week. 

The 29-year-old Votto also led the NL with a .655 on-base percentage and tied for second in hits with 14. He was third in total bases with 22. He homered twice and drove in five runs. 

"Joey is going to have those streaks because he demands perfection and has been working hard to get to this point," Reds manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. "When he's right, Joey Votto is one of the best there is."

It turns out Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard didn't get a scheduled day off Sunday as expected. Howard was kept out of the lineup against the Reds because of a knee injury and is unlikely to play Monday at Miami, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Phillies announced Howard will undergo a precautionary MRI on his left knee Monday.