MLB Player News

Freeman was 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI as the Braves defeated Philadelphia on Friday night.

Freeman is hitting a respectable .272 on the year, but despite having eight home runs, he has driven in just 15 as the sputtering Atlanta offense often fails to provide him many RBI chances. Perhaps Ender Inciarte and Gordon Beckham who are just returning from injuries will provide more baserunners in front of him going forward.

Carter was 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in a losing effort against the Mets on Friday night.

His two-run shot in the first inning put the Brewers in front, but that was all the offense they could muster. While his batting average (.247) is not a fantasy asset, his 13 home runs and 31 RBI hitting in the middle of the Milwaukee lineup are certainly useful.

Votto accounted for the Reds' two runs Thursday against the Indians with a two-run homer, his sixth of the season.

Votto has had a rough season so far, hitting just .215/.353/.378. He's still walking frequently (15.6%), but his strikeout rate is through the roof, at 26.9%.

Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI in Tuesday's win over the Yankees. He also stole two bases.

Goldschmidt entered the game with just two hits in his previous 18 at-bats (.111 average), so the multi-hit effort was nice to see. Goldy is still hitting just .232 this season, which is well below his .295 career mark. However, he's posting a solid .849 OPS, and the slugger's track record suggests better days are ahead.

Joseph went 3-for-4 with a home run in Tuesday's win over the Marlins.

Batting out of the cleanup spot against lefty Wei-Yin Chen, Joseph went yard to lead off the bottom of the second inning. It was the 24-year-old's first career home run. It sounds like he will be deployed in a platoon at first base for time being, but Joseph may be afforded a few starts against right-handers next week with the DH available in Detroit.

Howard is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Marlins, Meghan Montemurro of the News Journal reports.

With left-hander Wei-Yin Chen taking the mound for Miami, Howard and his .490 OPS against left-handed pitching will head to the bench for Tuesday's contest. Tommy Joseph will take over for him at first base.

Joseph could play first base during a three-game series in Detroit next week, Corey Seidman of CSN Philadelphia reports.

The Phillies are scheduled to face seven consecutive right handed pitchers after Tuesday, which might typically keep Joseph on the bench as part of his platoon with Ryan Howard. However, since the series with the Tigers is in Detroit, the DH spot will be available for Howard. Joseph got his first hit in the big leagues Monday and is 1-for-6 with a walk and three strikeouts in two games since his promotion from Triple-A.

Bour's power surge continued on Monday, going 1-for-4 with a home run in the Marlins' victory against the Phillies.

Bour has now homered four times in May and in three of his last five games. The first baseman had just one home run through April 28, but in the last two and a half weeks has six home runs. For the season, Bour is hitting .264 to go with his seven home runs and 19 RBI.

Howard is not in the lineup Monday against the Marlins, Stephen Gross of The Morning Call reports.

Howard will get his second day off in four games as the Phillies go up against left-hander Adam Conley. As was the case Friday against the Reds, Tommy Joseph will take over at first base, and he'll bat fifth in the order behind cleanup man Carlos Ruiz.

Carter went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, one run and two RBI on Sunday against the Padres.

Carter's 11th bomb of the year gave the Brewers an early lead in a game they'd go on to win. Although it was his first homer in 10 games, he has six bombs this month, and his slugging percentage is at .592.