MLB Player News

Hoskins went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Athletics.

Hoskins had a tough series against Oakland, going 0-for-11 with six strikeouts. The young slugger hadn't gone three games without a hit since his first three games in the majors last month. He'll try to bust out of his mini slump when the Phillies start a four-game set Monday against the Dodgers.

Cabrera is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Braves, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera is riding a five-game hitting streak (9-for-17 over that stretch), but he'll be given the day off against Julio Teheran and the Braves. Phillip Evans will take over at the hot corner and bat eighth in his stead.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's win over San Francisco.

Goldschmidt hit the home run in the top of the first inning, and it was the only offense that Arizona needed to secure the win. It's been another banner campaign for the slugger, and Goldschmidt is now just a single home run shy of his career-high 36 bombs during the 2013 campaign.

Votto went 2-for-3 with a double, a solo homer and a walk Friday against the Pirates.

Votto crushed his 35th homer of the season to put the Reds on the board in the first inning of a winning effort. Although he's had a fantastic batting average this month, this was his first bomb and fourth extra-base hit of the month for a player who's been an amazing fantasy producer for the entire season.

Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, two runs, and two stolen bases in Thursday's victory over the Mets.

Rizzo collected just five hits over 30 at-bats (.167) in the nine games prior to Thursday's, but he showed signs of getting back on track by walking four times Wednesday, and he had no trouble seeing the ball in the finale of the Cubs' three-game sweep of the Mets. The two steals, which give him 10 for the year, don't hurt either.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Rockies.

The two-hit performance helped end a brief skid at the plate for the MVP candidate, who had gone 2-for-25 with three runs and three RBI over the past six contests. While Goldschmidt's September has gotten off to a slow start, the Diamondbacks' attack hasn't missed a beat thanks to the heroics of the slugger behind him in the order, J.D. Martinez, who has hit nine home runs in his 11 games on the month.

Smith is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.

Smith heads to the bench following 11 straight starts, hitting .262/.326/.476 with two home runs and eight RBI during that span. In his place, Matt Reynolds gets the nod at first base.

Bell entered Tuesday's game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-2 against Milwaukee.

Pittsburgh continues to limit the switch hitter's time against left-handed pitching -- he didn't start against Tuesday southpaw Brent Suter. After a strong summer, Bell has slumped in September, slashing .214/.283/.310 with one homer and six RBI in 42 at-bats. Look for the first baseman to return to the starting lineup Wednesday against righty Chase Anderson, against whom Bell has one hit in four at-bats.

Freeman went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.

He's now slashing .378/.462/.689 in September with three homers and 11 RBI in 11 games, as Freeman tries to make up for the time he lost to a wrist injury earlier in the year. Expect him to continue swinging a hot bat as he makes a push for his second consecutive 30-homer season.

Joseph will continue to see his playing time limited with Rhys Hoskins expected to play more first base now that Aaron Altherr has returned from a hamstring injury, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Joseph was out of the starting lineup the past four games and is going to have a hard time finding at-bats over the remainder of the season. He's a near lock to be dealt to another club this winter with Hoskins set to open next year as the Phillies' regular first baseman.