MLB Player News

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores drove in six runs during a 2-for-5 performance Monday, smacking a two-run double in the sixth inning and slugging a ninth-inning grand slam in his team's 11-2 win over the Phillies.

Flores hadn't recorded an extra-base hit in 45 at-bats coming into Monday's game, and the grand slam was just the second home run of his career. Flores has hit .240/.283/.320 with seven RBI in 50 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been working out in Cincinnati and could start a minor-league rehab assignment at some point this week, MLB.com reports. He has been sidelined since May 15 because of a quad injury.

"We discussed the importance of it," manager Bryan Price said. "His situation -- with the soreness and the strength deficit he had when we went on the road to Philly and Washington -- was pretty significant. The only way really to have any understanding of if this is behind him is to play."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 2 for 6 with a three-run home run in his team's 5-4 loss to the Mets Saturday.

Howard knocked his home run in the seventh inning to reduce his team's deficit from four to one. It was his third home run and third multi-hit performance in the past week, giving him a .230/.304/.425 line with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 200 at-bats.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was not in the team's starting lineup Friday against the Brewers.

Rizzo is mired in a bit of a slump, collecting six hits over his last 10 games. He's also struggled against Brewers starter Marco Estrada. Over his career, Rizzo has picked up just one hit in 21 at-bats against Estrada. It's assumed to be a normal day of rest for Rizzo, and he should return to the lineup soon.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was spotted taking groundballs Thursday, as he continues to make progress in his recovery from a quad injury.

In addition to working out on the field, Votto may begin taking live batting practice in the coming days, manager Bryan Price told the Cincinnati Enquirer Thursday. Votto remains without a specific timetable to return to action, despite this progress. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBI in his team's 12-6 win over the Padres Wednesday.

Goldschmidt absolutely crushed a ball to center field in the seventh inning that traveled 480 feet, according to ESPN Stats & Info. He also recorded his 22nd double in the victory. Goldschmidt has hit .309/.361/.545 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 220 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 2 for 4 with a walkoff, three-run home run in his team's 6-3 win over the Rockies Wednesday.

Howard collected four RBI in all, with one coming on a third-inning single. He saved his biggest shot for last, smashing a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth right after a Chase Utley single evened the game at 3-3. Howard has two home runs as well as two multi-hit efforts in his last three games, helping him boost his line to .240/.319/.437 with nine home runs and 34 RBI in 183 at-bats.

If you own Ryan Howard in Fantasy, you're probably fed up with him by now. Yeah, he homered Monday, but with three in all of May, he's well off pace for the 30 you were hoping for.

And the finishing blow may have come Tuesday, when Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg not only started Darin Ruf in place of Howard against a left-hander but suggested it could become a permanent arrangement.

Yeah, sitting against lefties might redeem Howard's batting average somewhat. He's batting .212 against them this year and .224 for his career. But for the amount he'd sit, what he'd lose in the way of totals would effectively ruin his already fringy mixed-league appeal.

The platooon isn't a done deal yet, but with Ruf homering Tuesday, it's likely enough for you to consider dropping Howard, especially if a more promising Kendrys Morales or Jon Singelton type is still available on waivers.

Though he was hoping to serve just the minimum time on the DL, it appears unlikely that Joey Votto will be back in the Reds' lineup this Saturday when eligible.

"This particular injury doesn't have a due date on it," manager Bryan Price told MLB.com Tuesday. "Our target goal is to get him pain free and get his strength up to a level to expect his performance to be more like what we've seen in the past. I'm not sure we can get there all the way this year. But we want to get him to a place where he's confident he will not have regression."

Votto is making progress, but still had some pain as of Tuesday. Votto is not traveling with the team for its current two-city road trip, so it looks like he is likely out until the end of an upcoming series in Arizona. That series ends Sunday, one day after he is eligible to return. 

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg hinted Tuesday he could move to a Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf platoon at first base, per the Philadelphia Daily News. 

"If it works. If it produces, then it becomes a possibility going forward," Sandberg said.