MLB Player News

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is hoping to begin "baseball activities" soon, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Manager Bryan Price is hoping Votto will start those activities in late August. It's unclear how soon the club expects Votto to return to action. He was hitting .255/.390/.409 over 220 at-bats prior to the injury. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman slammed the third two-run home run in the first two innings against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Friday night. His 375-foot drive gave his team a 6-0 lead.

Freeman, who has provided consistent production all year, has eight hits in the last five games.

It comes as no surprise that Wilmer Flores is starting ahead of Ruben Tejada on Friday night. The former has apparently supplanted the latter as the top shortstop with the Mets, per ESPN, following a conference between Terry Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson.

Flores has earned consistent playing time since late July, though he has not exactly sizzled at the plate. He has five hits in 21 at-bats without a multi-hit game during his recent stretch.

Phillies embattled first baseman Ryan Howard saved his heroics for his last at-bat Thursday against Houston. He cranked out a grand slam in the eighth inning to wrest victory from the jaws of defeat.

Howard, whose homer came against left-hander Tony Sipp, has two homers and eight RBI in the last three games. Despite the criticism, he's on pace to slug 27 home runs with 106 RBI this season.

Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo has been given the day off for the Thursday game at Colorado. His spot has been taken by Chris Valaika.

Rizzo has just one hit in his last 12 at-bats, but has produced this season to the tune of a .281/.384/.506 stat line with 25 home runs.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard comprised the entire offense Tuesday, going 2 for 6 with a home run and two RBI in his team's 2-1, 15-inning win over the Astros.

Howard put his team up 1-1 with his solo home run in the second inning, but the Astros were able to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Howard came to the plate with two men on and two outs in the 15th inning and delivered a walkoff single to give his team a win. He has hit .217/.299/.373 with 17 home runs and 65 RBI in 410 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is starting Tuesday for the ninth time in the last 10 games as he resumes a full-time starting role, MLB.com reports.

Howard was benched for three straight games in late July in order to give Darin Ruf an opportunity to play and Howard a chance to regroup. He's 1 for 25 over his last seven games.

So Paul Goldschmidt has a fractured left hand and, at least in the opinion of manager Kirk Gibson, is likely to miss the rest of the season. Bummer. He was one of the few first-round picks who had actually performed like one up to this point.

Naturally, you shouldn't expect to get first-round production off the waiver wire or for anything close to a discount on the trade market. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't aim high. If the rest of your lineup is strong, the right replacement at first base should keep you competitive.

Of course, finding the right replacement is easier said than done, but I offer some suggestions in the Fantasy Baseball Today blog. Be sure to give it a read if you haven't already.

The Phillies placed several players on revocable trade waivers Saturday, including starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, reliever Antonio Bastardo, first baseman Ryan Howard, starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick and starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez, a source told FOX Sports.

However, FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal pointed out that nearly all players go on waivers in August. The players that clear waivers can be traded. The players claimed can be pulled back or traded/awarded to claiming team.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson delivered some disappointing news Sunday in regards to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who is sidelined due to a fractured left hand.

Gibson hinted Goldschmidt is likely done for the season, per The Arizona Republic.

"Realistically, it's eight weeks. So he's done," Gibson said.