MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo failed to make much of an impact Tuesday night against the Nationals.

Rizzo, who missed Monday's game with an illness, finished 0 for 4 with a strikeout in a 4-2 defeat. He has only two hits over his last 28 at-bats. He is hitting .228 with 18 homers and 65 RBI in 465 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will begin doing baseball activities Thursday, according to the Philadephia Inquirer.

Howard has been out since early July following knee surgery. The club is unsure if he'll return this year. Howard is hitting .266/.319/.465 in 286 at-bats. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has returned to the club's starting lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.

Rizzo missed Monday's game with an illness, but was not expected to be out long. He's hitting .230/.323/.425 in 461 at-bats. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo wasn't in the starting lineup Monday against the Nationals due to an illness, according to the Chicago Tribune. Rizzo is mired in a 7-for-57 slump since hitting two home runs Aug. 1 against the Dodgers.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run and finished 2 for 7 with two runs during Saturday's game against the Nationals. It was Freeman's 15th home run and second in six games.

Freeman is batting .295 (18 for 61) with two doubles, two home runs, eight runs and 10 RBI in 15 August games.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores did not seem too bothered by his sprained right ankle Saturday against the Padres, in his return from a four-game absence. Flores was able to leg out a double in the game, finishing 1 for 4 in an 8-2 loss.

Flores has now hit safely in five straight games, including a pinch-hitting appearance Wednesday. He is hitting .281 in 32 at-bats.  

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores was back in the starting lineup Saturday against the Padres, after missing four games in a row with an ankle injury. Flores is batting fifth and playing third base in the game. 

Marlins second baseman Donovan Solano picked up three hits Friday during a 14-10 loss to the Giants. Solano drove in two runs in the game and has 22 RBI on the year.

Solano went 3 for 5 as he singled home a run in the third inning. His infield single in the fifth scored Justin Ruggiano. The No. 2 hitter added a walk and a run scored and is batting .267 for the season.

The 25-year-old has been impressive lately. He's gone 7 for 18 (.389) with four RBI over his last four games. Solano is batting .277 over 47 at-bats in August overall.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores did "some pretty serious running" prior to Friday's game against the Padres, according to manager Terry Collins. Flores, who has missed four straight games, could return as early as Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores sat out Friday's game against the Padres because a right ankle injury.

Flores twisted his right ankle during Monday's game. He has missed four consecutive games with the injury. He batted .259/.310/.407 line in 27 at-bats before the injury.