MLB Player News

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) is unlikely to return this season, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports. 

Howard has been out since Sept. 14 after he was struck by a line drive while playing in the field. He eventually had to go to the emergency room to get his knee drained, but was optimistic he could return to the lineup sometime the following week.

That optimism has clearly faded as Howard has still not taken batting practice since the injury, prompting Lawrence to believe Howard's season is likely over.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) will be reevaluated Tuesday, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. 

The Phillies have a day off Monday. If Howard does not begin taking batting practice this week, the Phillies could decide to shut him down for the rest of the season. He has been sidelined since last Monday after taking a ball off his knee while playing in the field.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees.

Flores continues to share starts with Ruben Tejada at shortstop, and it's Tejada's turn to start again Sunday. Tejada will lead off for the Mets in place of Flores.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was 1 for 3 with a go-ahead two-RBI double in the eighth inning in a 2-1 victory over the Phillies on Saturday. He also drew a walk.

Freeman appears to slowly but surely be gaining some momentum at the plate as the season winds down. He has reached base safely in nine of the last 10 contests and now has four multi-hit outings in September. When hasn't been getting on with base hits, Freeman has been busy drawing walks, with the 26-year-old first baseman now the recipient of 15 free passes during the month. Freeman's OBP, slugging, and OPS numbers are also all up from an anemic August in which he only mustered a .231 average.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Braves, Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The team suggested Friday that Howard would likely only see action as a pinch-hitter over the weekend, but that didn't materialize in Friday's game. Howard will now be out of the lineup for a fourth straight game, as Darin Ruf picks up another start at first base.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 2 with two walks and a run scored in a 2-0 win over San Francisco on Friday. The on-base percentage continues to rise for the All-Star first baseman, as he is now at .435.

Over the last 11 games, Goldy has been in a bit of a mini-slump, as he's hitting just .263 with one home run and three RBI. In any case, he's still having an MVP-type season and may be in line to be the number one pick in fantasy next year.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 2 for 3 with a run in Friday's win over Philadelphia.

Hampered by wrist and oblique injuries, 2015 has not been one to remember for Freeman yet, as the season winds down, he is doing a good job of reminding owners that he remains very adept at getting on base, boasting a .423 OBP since the beginning of the month. Though his .366 OBP on the season is a step down for his standards, it would still rank eighth among first basemen if he had enough at-bats to qualify.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) could be available as a pinch-hitter over the weekend, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

After going to the emergency room Monday to have his knee drained, Howard reported that he was optimistic he'd be able to return this weekend. The first baseman is targeting a return to full-time duty at some point over the upcoming nine game road trip that begins Friday.

The suspension handed down to Reds slugger Joey Votto for his altercation with the home plate umpire last week has been reduced from two games to one upon appeal, the team has reported.

Votto will serve it Friday night at Milwaukee.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in a 6-4 win over Washington on Thursday.

Bour is in the midst of a nice three-game stretch in which he has two homers and seven RBI. The next big step for Bour is to find success against southpaws, as all of his homers and 49 of his 61 RBI have come off righties this season. If he can find his way into the lineup everyday, Bour could finally become mixed league relevant with his nice power-stroke.