MLB Player News

Freeman went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Marlins.

He's picking up steam again at the plate, going 6-for-19 (.316) over his last five games with all six hits going for extra bases (four doubles and two home runs). The Braves' slow start overall has held Freeman to only 20 RBI in 33 games despite a massive .342/.463/.750 slash line with 12 homers and 30 runs scored.

Joseph went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run during Saturday's loss to Washington.

The first baseman has heated up over the past 10 games with seven runs, five doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and a .419/.526/.871 slash line. Joseph hit 21 homers over just 347 plate appearances last season, and his current .449 slugging percentage likely has positive regression ahead. Additionally, the Philadelphia lineup isn't a pushover, so Joseph's counting stats could continue to pile up in a hurry.

Cabrera aggravated his left thumb injury during Saturday's contest against the Brewers and will have Sunday off to rest it, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

The shortstop was replaced by Jose Reyes late in the contest. Cabrera made some pinch-hit appearances earlier in the week before starting Friday and Saturday, but this setback may cost him at least another start in the coming days. If Cabrera must miss time, Reyes probably would fill in close to regularly at shortstop, with T.J. Rivera manning third base at least in a majority role.

Bell went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run homer in Friday's 11-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.

The homer was his sixth of the season and snapped an 0-for-14 skid for the young first baseman. Bell's .236/.323/.445 slash line isn't terribly impressive, but he's supplying more power than expected and his .256 BABIP should rise as the weather warms up.

Bour went 3-for-4 with a solo homer Friday against the Braves.

Bour smacked his sixth bomb of the year off Mike Foltynewicz to get the Marlins on the board in a game they'd go on to lose. Although his batting average is a bit lower than his career numbers, Bour's providing the pop that fantasy owners expected when selecting him on draft day.

Cabrera (thumb) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.

While Cabrera has made a few pinch-hit appearances in recent days, Friday's start marks his first in nearly a week. The 31-year-old jammed his thumb early during the team's last homestand but an MRI showed no structural damage. He's off to a 6-for-17 start to May.

Naylor (face) was activated from the minor-league disabled list Friday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Naylor was sidelined since the end of April with some facial fractures incurred from an errant pickoff throw, but it seems like the Padres are confident that he's back to 100 percent. He'll resume his normal role in High-A Lake Elsinore's lineup moving forward as he looks to build off the strong .306 batting average he posted prior to the injury.

Joseph is batting cleanup for Friday's contest with the Nationals, Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com reports.

Joseph has been on an absolute tear as of late, posting a 1.318 OPS over the past seven games thanks to two homers and three doubles in that span. Due to this, manager Pete Mackanin will reward him by moving him up from his normal spot in the six-hole, which could help Joseph to drive in more runs if he keeps up his torrid run at the plate.

Votto went 1-for-3 with two RBI from a single and a groundout in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Giants.

The slugging first baseman extended his hitting streak to five games and has also reached base safely in 15 straight contests overall. He's racked up a .407 average and 14 RBI over the first 10 games of May as well, propelling his team-leading total in the latter category to 33, which also ranks second in the majors. Votto has impressively lowered his strikeout rate from 17.7 percent to 11.6 percent this season, with his contact rate seeing a corresponding boost to a career-best 85 percent. Moreover, he's accomplished his aforementioned excellent production with a .267 BABIP that is over 100 points lower than the .373 figure he'd generated the prior two seasons.

Bell is out of the lineup Thursday night against the Diamondbacks.

Bell has gone four consecutive games without collecting a hit. His recent troubles at the plate have dropped his batting average from .258 to .236 over that brief span. He'll get the night off while John Jaso fills in at first base.