MLB Player News

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores drew a start Thursday against the Cardinals for just the seventh time in the last 22 games. However, manager Terry Collins said don't expect Flores to see an increase in starts any time soon.

"We've got to start winning," Collins said in explanation of Flores' sparse playing time, per MLB.com. "We don't have time to develop players right at the moment. You'd like to, for sure. But you can't just say, 'Hey, look, I'm going to sacrifice three or four games as we try and get some of these young guys in the lineup, try to get them going offensively.'

"I understand how it's tough for them to play once every three or four days -- I certainly understand it, I certainly get it. But unless the time comes where all of the sudden we're going to go with our young players and get them better, right now we've got to try to win some games. Not that he can't help us win games -- don't get me wrong. But it's about going with the guys that are really getting it done at the moment."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 3 with two walks and a two-run home run in his team's 5-2 win over the Braves Tuesday.

Howard put the Phillies on the board right away, slugging his home run in the first inning and giving his team a lead it would not relinquish. After hitting home runs in consecutive games, Howard has hit .231/.308/.420 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI in 255 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit his 12th homer in the second inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the 13th inning of Monday's 6-1 win over the Braves. Howard launched a 412-foot solo shot to center and finished 1 for 5 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored.

Howard is hitting .230/.302/.409 with 43 RBI in 230 at-bats.

The Marlins announced Monday they recalled first baseman Justin Bour from Triple-A New Orleans and demoted infielder Donovan Solano to the Triple-A club. The Marlins also designated reliever Kevin Slowey for assignment.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a two-out solo home run off A.J. Burnett in the first inning Sunday at Philadelphia, giving Travis Wood all the run support he would need in a 3-0 win. Wood tossed eight scoreless innings in the victory.

Rizzo's 14th home run was his fourth in his last 11 games. He's also batting .341 (14 for 41) with four doubles, nine runs and nine RBI in his last 11 games.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is batting .316 (6 for 19) with two doubles and three RBI in five games since returning from a left quadriceps strain, which kept him sidelined for close to a month.

"I feel good. It's been a bit of an adjustment coming back but I feel totally fine," Votto said, per MLB.com. "Usually, the thing I pay attention to is the way I look and feel when I work before a game. During a game, most of it is instincts and trying to execute a plan. Before a game, you get a good idea of what your physical capacity is. And I feel great before the game. I'm hitting the ball well during batting practice. I'm capable of doing what I want to do."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run in his team's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers Saturday.

Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to eight games with his home run, which was his third home run during the current streak. He has hit .309/.373/.560 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI in 275 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is playing at less than 100 percent, according to MLB Network Radio. 

"I don't think he's 100 percent, but I think he's being a warrior out there and we need him," third baseman Todd Frazier told the station. Votto has picked up four hits in three games since his return. He's hitting .267/.416/.459 over 146 at-bats.

Marlins designated hitter Justin Bour was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans after Wednesday's loss to the Rangers.

Bour made four appearances while with the Marlins, going 5 for 13 with one walk and two RBI. He returns to a .330/.407/.562 line with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 203 at-bats with New Orleans.

Marlins rookie designated hitter Justin Bour went 3 for 5 with two runs scored Tuesday against the Rangers, making him 5 for 11 since his callup. Bour has two RBI in the three games he's played.