MLB Player News

Howard is out of the lineup Sunday against the Braves.

Howard didn't react positively to reports of his role being reduced, but he has still started back-to-back games following the announcement earlier this week. He'll give way to Tommy Joseph at first base Sunday, however, despite the fact that a right-hander is taking the hill for the opposing team.

Bell is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers.

Bell has started five straight and 12 of the last 13, but he'll take a seat Sunday in favor of John Jaso at first base. Over his last four games, he has just one base hit in 17 plate appearances.

Carter went 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs in a 7-4 victory over the Pirates on Saturday.

He went deep in the sixth to put Milwaukee on the board and give the Brewers the lead. Then, his RBI single in the ninth provided an insurance run. Carter is hitting .300 with three homers and nine RBI versus the Pirates this season. He leads the league in strikeouts but also has 31 home runs.

Votto (neck) went 1-for-2 with a double, RBI, three walks and two runs in Saturday's 9-1 victory over the Cardinals.

It was a typical Votto stat line, with the former All-Star even driving in one run with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. The 32-year-old had actually not drawn a free pass since his last three-walk outing, which came Aug. 26 against the D-backs. Votto now has hits in four straight and has his season line up to .310/.433/.526 following Saturday's effort.

Joseph is out of the lineup Saturday against the Braves.

Manager Pete Mackanin said earlier this week that he intends to play Joseph more down the stretch, but so far that has yet to materialize, as Joseph has been out of the lineup in each of the last two games. Ryan Howard will start at first base and hit cleanup Saturday against righty John Gant.

Freeman went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, one of which produced a ninth-inning go-ahead RBI, two walks and two runs in Friday's 8-4 victory over the Phillies.

The standout first baseman continued his recent tear, hitting safely for the ninth straight contest and getting on base four times overall. Freeman supplied an extremely timely piece of hitting in the ninth, blasting a two-bagger to left that brought in Ender Inciarte and snapped a 4-4 tie. He scored later in the frame on a Nick Markakis double, and is now 3-for-6 with Friday's doubles, a homer, four RBI, four runs and four walks over the first two games of September.

Votto (neck) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Jamie Ramsey of MLB.com reports.

Votto was held out of Friday's game with a stiff neck, but the setback will not prevent him from taking the field Saturday. Votto will man first base and hit third Saturday against Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia.

Rizzo is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald.

Rizzo will get a day off with the Cubs using a lineup full of right-handed hitters against Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Rizzo tallied two hits Friday, but a day off Saturday may not be the worst thing, given that he is 3-for-16 (.188) with seven strikeouts lifetime against Bumgarner. Kris Bryant will fill in at first base in Rizzo's place.

Howard started at first base Friday and went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in an 8-4 loss to the Braves.

Manager Pete Mackanin said earlier this week that Howard's role would be reduced, which led to Howard voicing his displeasure in the media. On Friday, Mackanin clarified his position, telling Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia that Howard would "get more playing time than he thinks." Howard has made a case for playing time with a .295/.330/.632 slash line and nine home runs since the beginning of July.

Votto is being held out of the Reds' lineup Friday due to a stiff neck, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

It appeared that Votto was getting a routine day off when he was not included in Friday's lineup, but now it's clear he is actually sitting out due to a minor injury. Votto is considered day-to-day with his setback, so he should have a chance to return to the lineup as soon as Saturday.