MLB Player News

Joseph is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports.

Joseph will effectively give way to Ryan Howard at first base for the third time in the last five games. On June 10, Joseph had accumulated a respectable .323 batting average with an OPS that stood at 1.010. In the 18 games since, the 24-year-old is slashing just .116/.127/.203 with 19 strikeouts and just one walk. With numbers like those, it's no surprise to see him losing playing time, although Howard and his .148 batting average don't necessarily represent much of an improvement.

Smith continued his recent stretch of red-hot hitting Saturday, going 4-for-4 with two homers and five runs batted in against Double-A New Hampshire.

Smith has six home runs since June 24, giving him 10 on the season along with 58 runs batted in. Power has always been a question mark in his game, but he is doing his best to dispel that notion lately. If Smith continues to hit as well as he has recently, a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas could occur in the near future.

Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI against the Mets on Saturday.

Rizzo looks well on his way to a berth in the All-Star Game, as his 20 home runs and 60 RBI have him well ahead of his pace from last season, when he finished with 31 homers and 101 RBI.

Bour is officially day-to-day with a left ankle sprain.

The power-hitting first baseman exited Saturday's game against the Braves after running out a play to first base. Fortunately, the Marlins do not believe the injury to be overly serious as Bour is considered day-to-day after being examined by the medical staff. Depending on how the ankle responds to treatment overnight, the Marlins may opt to give him the day off Sunday, in which case Chris Johnson or Derek Dietrich could take over at first base.

Votto was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to right shoulder soreness.

Adam Duvall will make his third start at first base this season with Votto nursing a sore shoulder, which may be the result of an awkward slide into second base on a double during Friday's 14-inning game. Votto's availability off the bench and status for Sunday's series finale are up in the air.

Bour left Saturday's game with an apparent left ankle injury, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Bour appeared to tweak the ankle on a close play at first base in the sixth inning and he was lifted for Chris Johnson shortly thereafter. The extent of the issue remains uncertain, but look for the Marlins to update Bour's status ahead of Sunday's series finale in Atlanta.

Howard is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals.

Tommy Joseph will take over at first base Saturday while Howard draws the day off against a left-hander in Danny Duffy. Howard is batting a mere .105 against southpaws this season. He could draw back into the lineup when the Phillies face righty Yordano Ventura on Sunday, but Howard is no longer a bankable everyday option at first base.

Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and three RBI in Friday's 10-2 victory over the Cubs.

The 30-year-old touched up Jason Hammel twice, getting to him in both the second and fifth innings. Cabrera has hit safely in eight of the last 10 games, while homering four times over that span. Friday's production was particularly encouraging considering the shortstop slumped at the plate in June, tallying only a .228 average and .297 OBP for the month.

Votto went 3-for-6 with a double and run in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Nationals.

The 32-year-old continues to climb out of the considerable hole he'd dug himself in the early part of the season, tallying his second straight multi-hit effort and third in the last five games. Votto finished June with a stellar .319/.466/.549 line, and has raised his average 40 points since the beginning of last month.

Joseph is not in Friday's lineup against the Royals, Stephen Gross of the Morning Call reports.

Joseph has started four of the past five games, but will be out for Friday's contest as Ryan Howard takes over first base. He has been cooling off recently with a rough last couple weeks of June, and has seen his season totals come down to .223/.235/.446 with eight home runs and 15 RBI. Joseph will likely be back in the lineup for Saturday's game.