MLB Player News

Votto went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Rangers.

The veteran slugger has picked his game up over the past week, going 9-for-15 (.600) with multi-hit games in each of his last four starts. Votto had just 22 RBI for all of June and July combined, before busting out for 22 so far in August alone. He's got himself back on pace to challenge the 100 RBI mark, a feat Votto hasn't accomplished since 2011.

Howard is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.

Despite the fact that the Phillies are playing in an American League park this week, Howard will still take a seat Tuesday with Philadelphia facing southpaw Carlos Rodon. Carlos Ruiz will serve as the DH instead of Howard, but Howard could draw in Wednesday against James Shields.

Bour (ankle) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday.

The move to place Bour on the 60-day DL opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Oswaldo Arcia, who was claimed off waivers by the Marlins on Tuesday. Bour's recovery from a badly sprained ankle has been a tricky one with plenty of stops and starts along the way, including several expected return dates that had to be pushed back. He has been sidelined since early July, so Bour could still return in September if his ankle cooperates.

Rizzo went 4-for-5 and scored a run in Monday's win over the Padres.

Rizzo has just one home run in 20 games in August, but he has been making opposing pitchers pay in other ways. He owns a solid 9:10 BB:K and mashed his eighth double of the month in Monday's win. His batting line for August sits at a cool .383/.451/.568, proving he can be plenty productive even when he isn't depositing the ball into the bleachers.

Freeman homered, walked, scored three times and drove in three runs in a 3-for-4 game Monday against the Diamondbacks.

Freeman's home run tied the game in the top of the ninth only for the Braves to lose on a walk-off shot from Paul Goldschmidt in the bottom of the frame. He missed Sunday's game with a finger injury, but it didn't look like it was bothering Freeman at all. Freeman is now up to 25 home runs and continues to build on a career high in home runs. He needed 147 games to hit his previous career high, 23 home run, in both 2012 and 2013.

Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI and a walk-off solo home run in Monday's win over the Braves.

This marks just Goldschmidt's second home run in August, but he's been bringing it in every other facet of the game. He has scored 19 runs thanks to a ludicrous 20:14 BB:K and now owns a .338/.473/.535 line in 20 games in August. If that wasn't enough, he has also thrown in five stolen bases as he continues to be one of the most well-rounded fantasy players in the league.

Carter hit his 30th home run and walked twice in a 1-for-2 game Monday against the Rockies.

Carter has hammered three home runs in the past four games. Monday's blast gave him his second 30 home run season of his career, his first since he hit 37 with the Astros in 2014. Carter continues to rake at Miller Park -- 21 of his 30 home runs have come at his home park, one of the best hitter's yards in the league.

Freeman (finger) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Freeman was held out of Sunday's lineup after receiving an injection in his finger Saturday, but it appears that was all the time he needed to recover. Freeman will man first base and hit third in the Braves' batting order Monday night.

Votto continued his assault on pitchers this month, going 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored on Monday against the Dodgers.

Votto has been impossibly hot at the plate since the All-Star break, hitting an even .450. Despite his incredibly sluggish start to the season, Votto should now challenge his 80 RBI and .314 average from a season ago. The Reds' first baseman has been remarkably consistent over his career, and this season is proving to be no different.

Bell went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's loss to the Marlins.

He continues to rake in the majors and Bell now has an absurd .500/.556/1.000 slash line with a home run and five RBI through his first six at-bats. His defense was as shaky as advertised though and while he didn't commit a fielding error in his first big league start, two other Pirates did get charged with throwing errors on plays a slicker first baseman might have been able to salvage. The Pirates would seem to have little to lose by letting Bell's stick carry him through his growing pains with the glove, but his defensive issues could prevent him from seizing a full-time starting role.