MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not in the team's starting lineup Wednesday.

Rizzo has been hot lately, clubbing four home runs in his last six games. He'll be replaced at first by Cody Ransom. Rizzo is hitting .240/.333/.451 in 421 at-bats. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt didn't have a hit Tuesday against the Rays, but stiill had a strong game. 

Goldschmidt failed to get a hit in his only at-bat, but walked in his three other plate appearances. Goldschmidt took it on himself to get to second base, picking up his 11th stolen base in the fifth inning. He also scored two runs.

Goldschmidt is hitting .300/.392/.550 in 413 at-bats. 

Marlins infielder Donovan Solano continued his productive stretch Tuesday, as he drove in one run during a multi-hit effort in a 3-4 loss to the Pirates.

Solano went 3 for 4 in the game with one RBI, his fifth in five August appearances. He finished with three singles and one run scored in the loss. Solano is hitting .264 on the season and .263 in August, to go along with his five RBI. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who is a month removed from knee surgery, has reported to the team's spring complex in Florida. However, he hasn't been cleared to hit.

General Ruben Amaro Jr. said Tuesday Howard wouldn't return until 100 percent healthy.

Mets rookie third baseman Wilmer Flores started at third base and hit sixth in his MLB debut Tuesday against the Rockies. Tuesday also happened to be Flores' 22nd birthday.

Mets manager Terry Collins said he hopes to play Flores every day while David Wright (hamstring) is sidelined.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suggested to the Philadelphia Daily News it might be beneficial for first baseman Ryan Howard, who is recovering from July knee surgery, to sit out the rest of the season.

"If he's not 100 percent healthy when he comes back," Manuel said Sunday, "it'll defeat the purpose of what we're trying to do. 

"I'd say there's a 50/50 chance he'll be back by late September. That's what I would say. I'm not saying he will be back this year or that he won't be back, but if he's going to play, it'd be mid-September [at best]. But even if he doesn't play, as long as he's healthy -- I think it's about getting him healthy first, and then if he's healthy, getting him in top-notch shape, that's second."

The Mets officially promoted third baseman Wilmer Flores from Triple-A Las Vegas Monday. He has had a great year at Triple-A with a .322 batting average, 15 homers and 86 RBI over 106 games. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman recorded three hits and two RBI on Monday during a win at Washington.

Freeman went 3 for 4 in the game. He singled to right in the third inning to score a run and added a second RBI on his single to center in the fifth frame. He now has 75 RBI on the year and is batting .311.

Freeman has at least one base hit in nine straight games and has driven home 10 runs over that stretch.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores will hit for average in the majors. Of this, I'm fairly certain. He has made consistent contact throughout his minor-league career, and it's not like he's just slapping at the ball. How much power he'll provide, though, particularly at age 22, remains to be seen.

Granted, his 15 homers and 35 doubles so far at Triple-A are nothing to sneeze at, but he's playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League -- and at Las Vegas, no less. Any prospect worth his salt should put up those kinds of numbers there.

But again, he's not slapping at the ball. I'm not saying Flores is destined to become another Placido Polanco or anything. But if he does come up to fill in for an injured David Wright at third base, as speculated, you might want to give him a chance to show what he can do before claiming him off the waiver wire. Though a definite prospect, he's not on the level of, say, Christian Yelich, so I don't anticipate a mad rush to pick him up.

In the long run, I think he's a better Fantasy contributor than Cody Asche, if that gives you some perspective.

A source told the New York Post there is a good chance Mets infield prospect Wilmer Flores will be called up in the next week to fill in at third base for the injured David Wright (hamstring). However, Flores isn't expected to be promoted Tuesday.

Flores is batting .322 with a .532 slugging percentage, .890 OPS, four triples, 15 home runs, 35 doubles and 86 RBI in 106 games for Triple-A Las Vegas. Flores is considered the Mets' fourth-best prospect by MLB.com.