MLB Player News

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 1 for 3 in his third All Star Game on Tuesday. 

Goldschmidt scored a run in the game, the first Diamondback to score in the game since Luis Gonzalez in 2005. 

Goldschmidt has started the last two All Star Games and is 2 for 8 in his career. 

The National League released its starting lineup for the 2015 All-Star game on Monday.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen will bat leadoff and play center. He will be followed by Reds 3B Todd Frazier at third, Nationals OF Bryce Harper in right field, Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt at first, Giants catcher Buster Posey will be behind the plate, Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo will DH, Cardinals infielder Jhonny Peralta will play shortstop, Dodgers OF Joc Pederson will be in left with Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu at second.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke will be the starting pitcher and face Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was the team's lone bright spot in a 4-2 loss to the Giants on Sunday, driving in both runs. 

Howard tallied RBI singles in the seventh and ninth innings to increase his RBI total to a team-high 45. In his last 10 games, Howard has driven in nine runs. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt added to his MVP-like start to the season by hitting his 21st home run of the season during Sunday's loss to the Mets.

Goldschmidt went 1 for 4 with a solo blast. He now has a season slash line of .340/.455/.610.

Mets starting pitcher Jonathan Niese did what he had to do to pick up a win on Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Niese wasn't overly impressive, but he did limit Arizona to just three runs over 6 2/3 innings of work. He struck out three batters and allowed three walks in the process of picking up his fifth win of the year. Niese gave up a home run to MPV candidate Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning, but that was about as bad as it got for him.

Niese (5-8) has a 3.61 ERA in 104 2/3 innings this season.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs in Sunday's win over Cincinnati. 

Bour doubled twice, giving him nine on the year and three in the last two games.

Bour is 5 for 9 with five RBI in the last two games before the All Star Break. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard blasted a solo home run on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to avoid the 8-5 loss to th Giants. Howard's home run, his 15th of the year, gave the Phillies a brief 4-1 lead in the sixth inning.

Howard has gone deep twice in his last four games.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour continued his hot hitting on Saturday, as he went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in the 14-3 rout of the Reds. 

Bour is batting .265 with three homers and 10 RBI in 10 games this month.

With lefty ace Madison Bumgarner on the mound Friday, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will be held out of the starting lineup in the series-opener versus the Giants. Howard has struggled against southpaws this season to the tune of a .138 average (9 for 65).

Specifically, Howard is just 2 for 11 lifetime against Bumgarner. So, he will take a seat on Friday with Darin Ruf making the start at first base. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has been benched often lately against left-handers. He was not about to start against Dodgers super southpaw Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday night.

Howard is indeed out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last 11 games. He has just nine hits in 64 at-bats against lefties this season.