MLB Player News

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard finished a double shy of a cycle Sunday afternoon against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Howard actually made it to second base on a seventh-inning single that got past outfielder Brandon Barnes. He also took starter Juan Nicasio deep for a two-run home run in the third inning. He finished 4 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI in a 10-9 victory. He is hitting .262 with four homers and 10 RBI in 65 at-bats.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was able to start Sunday's game vs. Cincinnati after leaving Saturday's game due to back spasms. Rizzo is batting .419 (18 for 43) with one triple, one home run, two doubles, six RBI, six walks and eight runs in his last 12 games.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was forced out of Saturday's game against the Reds after eight innings due to back spasms. He felt it in his final at-bat, and the Cubs opted to take him out early as a precaution.

"It just started barking on me in the fifth or sixth, and once we took the four-run lead, I [decided to] play with more caution than go up there, get another at-bat and go out on the field and hurt it even more," Rizzo told MLB.com after the game.

Rizzo also said he felt it Friday, but does not expect it to be a lingering issue. He thinks he will be able to play in Sunday's game.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman clubbed another home run Friday against the Mets.

Freeman didn't get going until late in the game, but managed to make a big impact. With one man on base in the eighth, Freeman homered on an 83 mph changeup from Gonzalez Germen. He also added a double in the ninth inning.

Freeman finished 2 for 5, with one run and two RBI.

A matchup against tough Braves left-hander Alex Wood has Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard sitting Thursday. Catcher Carlos Ruiz is merely getting the day off after a Wednesday night game.

Howard is just 3 for 17 against southpaws this season. Ruiz has hit safely in five of his last six games, but owns a disappointing average of .233 and slugging percentage of .326 on the year.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 4 with a double and a home run in his team's 5-2 loss to the Mets Wednesday.

It was the eighth double and third home run of the season for Goldschmidt, who is following up his breakout 2013 season with an excellent April. He has hit .338/.392/.577 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 71 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit a two-run, two-out homer off Francisco Liriano in the seventh inning of Wednesday's 3-0 win vs. Pittsburgh. Votto finished 1 for 3 with one walk and two strikeouts.

Votto hit his fourth home run a day after collecting a season-high four hits Tuesday. All of Votto's home runs have come during a six-game hitting streak. He is batting .450 (9 for 20) with eight RBI in his last six games.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 4 for 4 with one run and one RBI in his team's 7-5 win over the Pirates Tuesday. Votto's in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, and he now owns a .327 batting average in 51 at-bats.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman clubbed his fourth home run Sunday against the Nationals.

Freeman wasted no time getting to work against Washington. He hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and followed that up with a two-run homer in the second. He was later hit by a pitch, and doubled in another run.

Freeman finished 2 for 3, with two runs scored and four RBI.

Bryan Price received a thumbs-up from Joey Votto well before the slugger was planted in the second spot of the lineup for the Reds on Saturday against Tampa Bay, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Price broached the possibility in spring training with Votto, who was in favor of the move. His patience at the plate and propensity to take walks has made him a viable candidate. Votto walked 135 times and scored 101 runs last season while driving in just 73. He has only two RBI this year.