MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts during Chicago's 4-3 win over San Francisco on Friday. It was the second game in a row Rizzo fanned three times -- and third occasion overall -- as his batting average dropped to .167 on the season.

He has now totaled more strikeouts (13) than hits and walks (10) over the first 10 games of the year.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo had a mixed day at the plate in a loss to the Giants Thursday, hitting his third home run of the season in the third inning but striking out three times as he went 1-for-5.

The two-run homer gives Rizzo nine RBI to go with a .188/.297/.500 line in 37 plate appearances this year.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is hitting .290/.500/.387 through nine games but has no home runs in his first 44 plate appearances. But he says his knee isn't the problem.

"It's not been a factor," Votto told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I'm very happy with it. I really haven't taken a swing -- or at least a swing I'm comfortable with -- since last July. ... I feel like I'm steadily moving toward where I was before I was injured."

Votto and the Reds open a series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh Friday.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo had a clutch hit Tuesday against the Brewers, recording his first double and tying the game in the seventh inning. Rizzo's double off left-hander Michael Gonzalez raised his average .185 and manager Dale Sveum hopes it's a sign of things to come.

"Hopefully, it's huge," Sveum told ESPN. "He hasn't been hitting with a lot of confidence, let alone off lefties and to do it on a breaking ball was even better. The way he stayed on it and stayed with it. Those things a lot of times springboard you into getting hot." 

Marlins second baseman Donovan Solano batted second in Wednesday's loss to the Braves, picking up a single in four plate appearances. It was the eighth time in nine games Solano, who is hitting .290/.371/.323 in 35 plate appearances, reached base safely.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard entered Tuesday's game against the Mets on a 4-for-27 slump to start the season. He broke out of his mini-funk in a big way with his first home run of the season.

Howard took starter Dillon Gee deep for a his first extra-base hit of the season -- a solo shot in the third inning. He finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in an 8-3 victory.

The 33-year-old upped his average to .161 through his eight games.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been watching video and taking extra cuts in the batting cage in order to break out of his slump, ESPN.com reports.

Although he has two homers with five RBI through seven games, the 23-year-old entered Tuesday's game against the Brewers batting .160 (4 for 25).

“I have to go with the approach I had in Triple-A,” Rizzo said. “I need to take a lot of those fastballs I am seeing to left field. Also must gear up for the changeup and take them up the middle.”

Almost like clockwork, Reds first baseman Joey Votto is among the National League leaders in on-base percentage and has fashioned a clip of at least .400 since the second game of the season. Votto finished 1 for 4 and collected two walks for the fourth time this season during Cincinnati's 13-4 rout at St. Louis Monday.

He is still hitting just .240 after seven games with just one extra-base hit -- a rare triple -- but has produced a stellar .472 OBP that is fueled by his NL-leading 10 walks. Votto has now reached base safely in 17 of his 36 plate appearances this season.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had a sacrifice fly Monday against the Pirates, giving him an RBI in five straight games. It ties a career-best streak he set last September.

Goldschmidt is batting .417 (10 for 24) with two homers, four doubles, seven runs and eight RBI during a five-game hitting streak. He has three multi-hit games in that span.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the season.

The 33-year-old came into the season with more questions than usual. Howard struggled after returning from injury last season, hitting just. 219/.295/.423 in 292 plate appearances. He did, however, manage to hit 14 home runs.

Howard has gotten off to a poor start, but there's no reason to think he'll suddenly stop hitting for power. His age and drop-off from last season are legitimate concerns, though.