MLB Player News

Rizzo (back) remains out of the Cubs' Cactus League lineup Friday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Chicago remains conservative with the Cubs' masher after scratching him from the starting order Thursday. Fantasy drafters shouldn't panic, though, as Rizzo has plenty of time to get healthy before Opening Day.

Stassi started in left field Thursday for the first time this spring and went 3-for-5 at the plate.

Stassi is off to an excellent start in his quest to win a bench job. He is hitting .636 with a 1.940 OPS in 12 plate appearances this spring.

Rizzo is experiencing lower back tightness and has been scratched from the Cubs' Cactus League lineup Thursday, Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports.

It appears to be a safety measure, but Chris Dominguez will replace him at first base. Rizzo's status is worth watching, but unless the injury worsens in the coming days or weeks, the 27-year-old should remain a steady first-round mixed fantasy pick.

Bell (knee) has been cleared to run the bases and will begin playing in simulated games in the coming week, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "He is in the final stages of his preparation for game activity," trainer Todd Tomczyk said.

Bell underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee one month ago. He's been taking grounders and running in straight lines, but the latest news is even more encouraging. "Actually, it's felt great for a couple weeks now," Bell said. "I guess the soreness from the incision points where they scoped into the knee, the soreness there has gone away. I feel as close to 100 percent as I'm going to feel."

Joseph went 1-for-3 with his first homer of the spring in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Orioles.

Joseph will open the season as Philadelphia's regular first baseman after hitting .257/.308/.505 with 21 home runs in 315 at-bats last year while splitting time with Ryan Howard. With Howard out of the picture, Joseph will see the majority of the starts at first base and could top 30 home runs this season.

Freeman went 2-for-3 with three RBI in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

He's 5-for-7 to begin spring training, and Freeman seems intent on repeating or bettering his career-best numbers from 2016, during which he slugged 34 home runs with a .969 OPS. With an improving lineup around him, the 27-year-old should be able to record his second career 100-RBI season.

Flores got the start at first base during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run.

He could see more action at first base than anticipated early in the season, given Lucas Duda's ongoing back issues, but Flores still figures to serve mainly as a platoon option off the bench this season for the Mets. His power and multiple paths to playing time still make him a viable roster option in deep NL-only formats, however.

Cabrera went 1-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, leading off with a home run off Joe Musgrove for his first hit of the spring.

He isn't likely to be the leadoff hitter come Opening Day, now that Jose Reyes seems set to replace David Wright (shoulder) at third base, but Cabrera should still have a prime spot in the batting order in 2017 after posting a career-high .810 OPS last season.

Hoskins has made a positive impression on manager Pete Mackanin early in camp, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports. "I was told he's got a good idea at the plate and he sure looks like that, he sure looks like it," Mackanin said. "He's got a nice soft approach. It looks like he's really under control. That's good to see."

Hoskins has played in all three spring training games thus far and has gone 2-for-4 with a homer and two walks. He will open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but could get a look in Philly later this year if Tommy Joseph fails to build on his 2016 season. Hoskins hit .281/.377/.566 with 38 home runs in 498 at-bats last season at Double-A Reading.

Bour hit fifth in Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Cardinals, going 1-for-2 with a solo home run.

The blast came off St. Louis closer Seung Hwan Oh, making for an impressive start to Bour's spring campaign. Injuries limited the 28-year-old to 90 games last season, but his .264/.349/.475 slash line was a step up from his rookie performance in 2015 thanks to an improved walk rate, and if he continues hitting behind Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton during the regular season, he should be able to top his career high of 73 RBI.