MLB Player News

Bell pinch-hit for the fourth consecutive game Friday, drawing a walk against Stephen Strasburg.

Bell has yet to play in the field, even though Friday's game presented a good opportunity for him to get his feet wet with the Bucs down by four runs in the eighth. The team will need to clear a roster spot for Saturday's starter Gerrit Cole. Bell will either be sent to Triple-A or Gregory Polanco (hamstring) will go on the DL.

Bell figures to potentially come off the bench as a pinch hitter Friday against the Nationals.

The team will likely decide his future Saturday, when it needs to clear a roster spot for the returning Gerrit Cole. Bell will stay on the roster if Gregory Polanco (hamstring) is placed on the disabled list, otherwise he'll head back to Triple-A.

Freeman had a mole removed from his back over the All-Star break that contained cancerous cells, but the doctors got it in time, and he hitting third in Friday's lineup, the Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien reports.

It sounds like Freeman dodged a legitimate scare over the break, and while he needed stitches after the procedure, it won't cost him any time. Freeman is on pace for a career high in home runs, as he had 16 in the first half, while his best mark is 23 in 2012 and 2013.

Flores is out of the lineup Friday in Philadelphia.

Jose Reyes, who has three home runs in 26 plate appearances with the Mets this year, will get the start at third base and lead off Friday. Flores and Reyes, both of whom have pretty even career splits against righties and lefties, should wrestle for playing time at the hot corner going forward, with manager Terry Collins likely favoring whoever is swinging a hotter bat.

Despite an electric weekend debut, the Pirates are unwilling to commit to Bell at first base because of his defense, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

He went 2-for-2 with a walk and a grand slam against the Cubs in three pinch-hitting opportunities but did not play in the field. General manager Neal Huntington is looking for Bell to become a "ninth-inning defender." There was some talk that Pittsburgh could put him in right field Sunday with Gregory Polanco (hamstring) ailing, but manager Clint Hurdle didn't think that'd be fair after two years away from the outfield. The team has yet to reveal whether Bell, who's already made 10 errors at first base for Triple-A Indianapolis, will start the second half in the big leagues. Polanco's status will likely determine whether Bell remains with the Bucs or fights for the Triple Crown at Indy.

Howard is unlikely to face disciplinary action from a PED investigation by Major League Baseball, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Howard was named in an Al Jazeera report in December claiming he and other professional athletes used the performance-enhancing substance Delta 2. He has denied any wrongdoing and has filed a defamation suit against Al Jazeera.

Bell walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter in Sunday's loss to the Cubs.

While he didn't get a start over the weekend, Bell reached base and scored all three times he was called upon to pinch hit, rapping out a single Friday before launching a grand slam for his first big league homer Saturday. The Pirates first baseman of the future might get sent back down after the All-Star break to make room for a pitcher, but it's not for lack of trying on his part.

Rizzo went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Pirates.

After posting a huge .378/.467/.744 slash line in June, Rizzo's kept his momentum going in July, racking up a .400/.478/.700 line with two homers, five RBI and eight runs scored in 10 games. He's on pace for career highs in homers, RBI and runs as well as all three slash categories, and don't be surprised if he's in the MVP conversation at the end of the year.

Rizzo went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and a run in Saturday's 12-6 loss to the Pirates.

His bat has caught fire in July, as he now has hit safely in eight straight games while slashing .343/.439/.629 over 35 at-bats. Rizzo has his average up to .290, a figure that's complemented by a stellar .410 OBP and .581 slugging percentage.

Bell will not play in front of John Jaso at first base and will likely be going back to Triple-A Indianapolis after Sunday's matchup with the Cubs, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Manager Clint Hurdle said Sunday that Bell wasn't going to take over first base or even play in front of Jaso on a regular basis, so the 23-year-old slugger will likely go back to Indianapolis over the All-Star break. Bell is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Cubs as Jaso is slotted in at first.