MLB Player News

Manager Pete Mackanin indicated Howard's role will be reduced moving forward, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard has been in the lineup more frequently of late due to improved production at the plate. However, he will be a free agent after the season and the Phillies are looking toward the future. Manager Pete Mackanin said he wants to see Tommy Joseph get more at-bats against right-handed pitching next month.

Manager Pete Mackanin said he intends to play Joseph more frequently over the remainder of the season, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Ryan Howard had seen an increase in playing time of late, but that trend will not continue. Mackanin said he wants to see Joseph get plenty of at-bats against right-handed pitching next month.

Cabrera (knee) went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-run homer in a return to the lineup Tuesday before being lifted for a defensive sub late in the game.

Cabrera's bomb came in the bottom of the first inning after leadoff man Jose Reyes singled to get things going. The bomb was Cabrera's 17th of the season, and raised his batting line to .273/.324/.453. The Mets' brutal offense, ranking 28th in the MLB in runs scored, has dragged down some of Cabrera's numbers: he has just 44 RBI and 48 runs scored despite playing basically everyday.

Howard went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and two strikeouts in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Nationals.

Howard's homer provided all of Philadelphia's offense in this one, as the rest of the lineup managed just two hits against Nationals ace Max Scherzer. The veteran first baseman reached the 20-homer mark for the third straight season, but his 31.3 percent strikeout rate makes him an extremely hit-or-miss option.

Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

Rizzo's first-inning blast was his 26th of the season, but just his second this month and first since Aug. 14. Despite the dip in power, the first baseman has been racking up the hits this month, going 36-for-108 (.333) in August to raise his season's average to .294.

Cabrera (knee) is back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.

After getting the day off Monday to rest his sore knee, Cabrera returns to the lineup for Tuesday's divisional matchup. Cabrera will bat second in the order and start at shortstop. His return to the lineup will slide Jose Reyes back over to third base and bump Kelly Johnson back to the bench.

Bell homered, walked twice and scored two runs in a 1-for-2 game in Monday's extra-innings loss to the Cubs.

Bell is on fire since returning August 20, with a 7:2 BB:K and three extra-base hits in 10 games. Sean Rodriguez has done well this year, with a .252/.333/.486 batting line, but Bell has been too good for the Pirates to keep him out of the lineup. His season line is now up to an absurd .407/.541/.704.

Votto went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 9-2 loss to the Angels.

Votto opened the scoring in the top of the first, but that was all the offense Cincinnati would muster against Matt Shoemaker. The veteran first baseman has been remarkably consistent with at least 22 homers in seven of the past nine years. He's as locked in as any player in baseball with 15 RBI in his last 10 games.

Cabrera (knee) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com.

Cabrera was expected to start Monday despite his early exit from Sunday's contest, but he will get at least one day to rest and recover. Given that Cabrera had a shot to play Monday, he should have a chance to get back on the field for the Mets' next game Tuesday.

Updating a previous report, Cabrera was forced to exit Sunday's game with a sore left knee injury rather than an arm injury, according to ESPN.com's Adam Rubin.

It's not encouraging news for Cabrera, who was previously forced to the DL earlier this month with a strained patellar tendon in the same knee. The shortstop had been on fire since coming back from the DL, going 15-for-33 (.455 average), so an absence of any length due to this latest knee setback would obviously be costly for the playoff-hopeful Mets. Wilmer Flores ended up replacing Cabrera on Sunday and slotted in at third base, while Jose Reyes moved over from the hot corner to cover Cabrera's normal spot at shortstop. Flores would be the primary beneficiary if Cabrera's injury would require another DL stint.