MLB Player News

Bell is back in the lineup batting second and playing right field Friday against Cincinnati.

With Starling Marte still nursing a back injury, Bell continues to get opportunities in the outfield. Marte is expected to return Saturday, so Bell will probably move back to first base shortly, but his bat has been too good for the Pirates not to find him a place in the lineup. He carries an .877 OPS into Friday's action.

Freeman will return from his unofficial paternity leave Saturday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Freeman was never placed on the paternity list thanks to expanded rosters, but he has been with his wife for the birth of their child since Wednesday. Expect him to return right to the heart of Atlanta's lineup on Saturday.

Flores received a cortisone shot in his injured wrist Friday, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.

Flores said he still wasn't feeling great after receiving the shot but that he still hopes to return to play shortly. He is still expected to miss at least another couple of days, with a return early next week looking most likely.

Freeman (personal) is out of the lineup Friday against the Nationals.

He left the team Wednesday to be with his wife for the birth of the couple's first child, but was not officially placed on paternity leave -- there was really no need to do so with expanded rosters. It's uncertain when Freeman will return to the lineup but chances are he will be back before the end of the series.

Rizzo is out of the lineup Friday against the Brewers.

Manager Joe Maddon is resting his star players, as the team plans to celebrate, win or lose, after Friday's day game. Chris Coghlan will get the start at first base and hit fifth Friday.

Joseph will be on the bench for the next three games, Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice reports.

The Phillies intend to honor Ryan Howard as he closes out his career with the team. He'll start the next three games at home against the Marlins and the last three games of the season at home against the Mets. That will leave Joseph with nine more starts this season in a best case scenario, but he could end up losing playing time to Howard in some of those games as well.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Howard will start the next three games against the Marlins at first base, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard has been splitting time at first base fairly evenly of late with Tommy Joseph. Mackanin also said the Phillies plan to start Howard for the team's final three home games of the season against the Mets. They will be Howard's final games with the Phillies before he becomes a free agent.

Bell is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Bell raised his batting average from .277 to .292 with eight hits over his last seven games, but manager Clint Hurdle still decided to give him a day off Thursday. John Jaso will get the start at first base in Bell's place.

Rizzo went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in a 7-0 victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday.

The two homers were Rizzo's 30th and 31st of the season. He needs just two more to set a new career high. Rizzo also has a .290 average, .938 OPS and 101 RBI, all of which are either career bests or tied with previous career highs.

Freeman exited Wednesday's game to join his wife, who is in labor with their first child, Kevin McAlpin of Sports Radio 680 The Fan reports.

Freeman will likely miss a couple games and be placed on the paternity list because of the event. However, the Braves don't really need a roster spot due to the expanded September rosters. In his absence, Gordon Beckham could be in line for playing time at first base.