MLB Player News

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. expressed optimism Tuesday first baseman Ryan Howard isn't dealing with a major knee injury, despite it being the same leg he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.

"I think we have to be concerned any time our guys have any issues, but I don’t think it’s something that is so daunting that we’re panicking about it," Amaro told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "It’s something we have to be aware of and make sure he does his proper rehab to address it and make sure he’s OK. If there is a meniscus issue, it is repairable and there are some things he can do that can help alleviate some of the stuff he had."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was unavailable for Monday's game against the Marlins after having a cortisone injection in his left knee Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Howard is said to be day to day, though they are hopeful he'll be able to avoid the disabled list.

Howard underwent an MRI Monday and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said Howard had symptoms in his knee for a few weeks. Howard said the knee began bothering him more recently.

There is some speculation that his knee injury and the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series could be related.

“That’s the million dollar question right there,” Sheridan said. “For me, it’s like the old song: the foot bone is connected to the knee bone … to me the closed chain of the ankle relate to the knee, relate to the hip. They all play apart. So that’s a reasonable question. Whether that’s what’s happened, we don’t know.”

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was named National League Player of the Week Monday, MLB.com reports. He hit a major league-best .583 last week. 

The 29-year-old Votto also led the NL with a .655 on-base percentage and tied for second in hits with 14. He was third in total bases with 22. He homered twice and drove in five runs. 

"Joey is going to have those streaks because he demands perfection and has been working hard to get to this point," Reds manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. "When he's right, Joey Votto is one of the best there is."

It turns out Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard didn't get a scheduled day off Sunday as expected. Howard was kept out of the lineup against the Reds because of a knee injury and is unlikely to play Monday at Miami, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Phillies announced Howard will undergo a precautionary MRI on his left knee Monday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Reds for just the fifth time in 44 games. Michael Young drew the start at first base.

Howard entered play Sunday in a 4-for-34 slump (.118) in his last nine games. He has a double and two RBI in that stretch.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo ended a nine-game homerless drought Saturday in an 8-2 win over the Mets.  

Rizzo went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the fifth inning. He added a run scored and didn't strike out for the ninth game in a row.

 Rizzo is batting .282, including .369 in May. 

After going 18 games in a row without a home run before Friday, Reds first baseman Joey Votto did not wait long for his next one. Votto homered Saturday for the second game in a row, while reaching base six times in a 10-0 win over the Phillies.

Votto went 4 for 4 with a double and the HR. He drove in two runs and scored twice.

Votto's on-base percentage is .473, which would be the highest for a season in the majors since 2004. He has six home runs and 20 RBI to go with a 1.004 on-base plus slugging percentage. He leads the National League with 37 walks and ranks third with a .346 batting average. 

Reds first baseman Joey Votto snapped a string of 18 games in a row without homering Friday, as he took Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo deep for a solo shot in the eighth inning of a 5-3 loss.

Votto went 2 for 4 in the game, raising his batting average to .329. He is batting .400 with a 1.056 on-base plus slugging percentage in the month of May, however he now has just one home run and seven RBI in the past 14 games.  

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt followed a three-hit performance his last time out with a multi-home run game Friday night against the Marlins.

Goldschmidt took starter Kevin Slowey deep for two-run shots in the first and third innings. He added two hits and finished 4 for 5 with four runs scored and four RBI in a 9-2 victory. It was his second four-hit game of May.

Goldschmidt is hitting .440 with seven homers and 17 RBI in 15 May games. He has a .338/.421/.656 line with 12 homers and 35 RBI in 151 at-bats.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has not struck out in his last 31 at-bats, the second-longest active streak in the majors and a far cry from how he began the season.

Rizzo struck out in 27.6 percent of his at-bats in the month of April, leading to a .224 batting average despite eight home runs and 20 RBI. Since May 1, however, he has struck out in just 12.3 percent of his at-bats.

His improved plate discipline has led to a .368 batting average in the month, though he does have just one home run in 14 games.