MLB Player News

Barring any setbacks in the final game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett Sunday, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (oblique) is expected to rejoin the team for Monday's series opener at Colorado, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Freeman has played just five games this season and has been out since April 7 with a strained right oblique.

In his second outing with Gwinnett Saturday, Freeman went 5 for 5 with three singles and two doubles while also driving in two runs. He also played the entire game at first base and is scheduled do so again Sunday.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto reached base five times and had his second home run of the season in a 3-2 win over Miami in 13 innings Saturday. He finished 4 for 6 with a walk -- the 14th time he has had four hits in a game, which represents a career high.

Votto, who went 11 games to start the season without a home run, has now had two over his past seven outings. His batting average is .305.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who is dealing with right groin tightness, is expected to return to the starting lineup Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Howard, who was held out of Saturday's game, was active during infield drills with his teammates and is expected to be available as a pinch-hitter.

"He's feeling better," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We decided to give him another day. He still has some stiffness and soreness. More than likely, he'll be ready to go [Sunday]."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was absent from the lineup for the second consecutive game Saturday against St. Louis due to a groin injury. Howard was replaced at first by John Mayberry for Philadelphia and is considered day to day with the issue.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman made the first of what is expected to be three rehab appearances Friday at Triple-A Gwinnett, as he continues to recover from a right oblique strain.

Freeman went 0 for 3, with a walk, a run scored and three strikeouts while serving as a designated hitter. Freeman will play in the field Saturday and Sunday and is expected to be activated in time for Monday's series beginning in Colorado, according to MLB.com.

Let's all chill on Ryan Howard. I know some people are questioning his health a good 18 months after his Achilles injury, and yes, his mobility seems to be comprimised. But he's not any less healthy now than he was last year, when he returned to perform at a 30-homer pace over the final three months. And given how effortlessly he was launching balls out of the park this spring, it's not like his power stroke evaporated in the offseason.

All-or-nothing hitters like him will have their ups and downs. In 2007, fresh off winning NL MVP, he hit only .221 in April, to use just one example. Frankly, I don't see why more people aren't encouraged by his .371 batting average and .960 OPS over his last nine games.

Ryan Howard is officially day-to-day with groin tightness, MLB.com reports.

Howard is out of the lineup for the first time this year due to the injury. The Phillies first baseman has just one home run and five RBI in 62 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is out of the lineup Friday night against St. Louis, MLB.com reports.

Howard has played in all 16 of Philadelphia's games. His .274 average through 66 at-bats is an improvement over previous years, but the power and discipline just haven't showed up yet -- he has just a .303 OBP and .387 SLG with one home run and three walks against 16 strikeouts.

By all accounts, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is healthy, which makes his offensive performance this season puzzling. The big slugger has yet to find his power stroke 16 games into the season.

Howard went 3 for 4 Thursday against the Cardinals to raise his batting averaging to .274, but all three hits went for singles. Howard does not have an extra-base hit in any of his last four games, and he has just five in 62 at-bats.

Howard has also walked just three times, with 16 strikeouts. His .690 on-base plus slugging percentage would be the lowest of his career, just ahead of the .718 mark he posted in an injury-riddled 2012 campaign. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit his fourth home run of the year in his team's 6-2 win over the Rangers Thursday. It was just the ninth hit of the season for Rizzo, who has posted a .180/.305/.460 line in his first 50 at-bats while striking out 16 times.

Rizzo will look to extend his three-game hitting streak when the Cubs square off against the Brewers this weekend.