MLB Player News

Freeman went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a double in a victory versus Philadelphia on Thursday.

Freeman slugged a 401-foot homer in the fourth inning, the first of back-to-back blasts with Josh Donaldson. In 346 at-bats this season, Freeman has now hit 23 homers -- the same amount he hit in 618 at-bats last season. Fortunately, the first-half power surge has not come at the expense of his other numbers; on the season, he is slashing an impressive .309/.393/.590.

Solano started at short and batted eighth Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in a 7-5 win over the Padres.

Solano had started the previous four contests due to a slew of southpaws taking the bump against the Giants, but Wednesday's start was a bit surprising considering it came against a righty. The veteran utility infielder has performed adequately when called upon (.308/.337/.397 over 83 plate appearances) and starting shortstop Brandon Crawford has been disappointing at best, but a complete changing of the guard seems unlikely. Manager Bruce Bochy has proven in the past that he rewards players who homer with a start the following day -- Solano homered on Tuesday -- so this may simply be a result of his unorthodox system. The Giants are facing three righties in their upcoming series against the Cardinals, so it will be telling whether this is a depth chart shift or just a blip on the radar.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a win over the Mariners on Wednesday.

Goldschmidt managed what has surprisingly become a relatively rare feat for him, an extra-base hit, during the victory, marking the first time he'd laced anything more than a single since June 20. With just 22 extra-base knocks over 359 plate appearances, the valued offseason acquisition continues on pace for his poorest showing in that category since his 48-game cup of coffee with the Diamondbacks back in 2011. The lack of impactful hits is partly responsible for Goldschmidt's career-low .323 wOBA, with the scenario made even more confounding by the fact he also sports a career-high 49.3 percent hard-contact rate.

Rizzo will start at first base and bat cleanup Thursday against the Pirates.

Rizzo has drawn all but one of his prior 82 starts this season as the Cubs' No. 3 hitter, with the lone other appearance coming out of the leadoff spot. After Javier Baez thrived out of the two hole Wednesday while Kris Bryant (knee) received a maintenance day, however, manager Joe Maddon will deploy Rizzo behind both players as Bryant returns to the lineup in the series finale. The move down one spot in the batting order shouldn't have much of an impact on Rizzo, whose lackluster production lately has been self-inflicted more than a result of being surrounded by underwhelming hitters. Rizzo hasn't produced a home run since June 15 and is batting .207/.324/.276 over the last 17 contests.

Walker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-4 loss at Dodger Stadium.

Walker got the Diamondbacks on the board by crushing a two-run, 403-foot homer off Walker Buehler in the fourth inning. It was the 15th homer of the season for the 28-year-old, who has 43 runs scored and 38 RBI over 83 games while batting .256/.327/.481.

Bell went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in a 6-5 victory against the Cubs on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old smashed his 26th homer, but even more impressively, his 59 extra-base hits are the most ever by a National League player before the All-Star break. Bell has five extra-base hits in three games this week against the Cubs. He is batting .309 with a 1.042 OPS, 80 RBI and 67 runs in 324 at-bats this season.

Solano went 3-for-6 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Padres.

The veteran utility infielder received the start at shortstop and acted as the Giants' leadoff man, a role he's been filling lately when the team opposes left-handed pitching. He kicked the game off with his first home run of the season as the Giants throttled San Diego for the second straight night. Solano's slashing a surprising .311/.342/.392 through 28 games since joining the Giants, but his .355 BABIP suggests a cool-down could happen at any time.

Flores (foot) has resumed full baseball activity, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Flores is taking groundballs and moving around freely. This, after the injured second baseman was already swinging a bat in a controlled environment. Flores, who fractured his right foot and hasn't played since May 19, is close to beginning a rehab assignment.

Smith isn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith will head to the bench with a lefty in James Paxton slated to toe the rubber for the opposition. J.D. Davis draws the nod in left field and is batting third in Smith's stead.

Bell went 4-for-6 with three homers, seven RBI and four runs scored in Monday's 18-5 blowout win over the Cubs.

Bell used the Cubs' pitching staff as a warmup for next week's Home Run Derby, breaking out for his first career three-homer game. He launched a three-run homer in the first inning, a two-run blast in the second, and put the Pirates up 18-5 with a two-run shot in the eighth. Bell is up to 77 RBI with a 1.035 OPS in his breakout campaign.