MLB Player News

Mets manager Terry Collins said last week that it was a possibility shortstop Wilmer Flores would move to second base upon Daniel Murphy's return from the disabled list.

Murphy is getting closer to a return, but Collins apparently couldn't wait any longer to get a glimpse of Flores at second base, as the 23-year-old infielder made his first start this season at second base Sunday against the Reds.

"This kid played fine at shortstop," Collins said, per NJ.com. "Made a couple of errors that cost us a couple of runs at times. But I looked through the league and he caught the baseball. He can play second base. He showed us that last September. And look in September, we played pretty good with Wilmer Flores playing second, with Dan at third and Ruben (Tejada) at shortstop.

"With Dan coming back, we certainly don't know what the time frame is with David (Wright) and I think this is going to be our best infield that we're going to run out there on a nightly basis."

Phillies outfielder Ben Revere and first baseman Ryan Howard are not in the lineup of the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Nationals. 

In Game 1, Revere went 0 for 4 and Howard went 0 for 3 with a walk. Howard's performance saw him strike out three times. Playing first base for the Phillies in Game 2 will be Darin Ruf and manning center field will be Odubel Herrera. 

The Marlins will start Jeff Baker at first base in Saturday's game, in place of Justin Bour.

Bour has started 30 games at first this season, but Baker has gotten the call three times in the last four games. 

Baker will be starting his twelfth game at first base this year. He'll bat fifth in the lineup.  

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will not be in the lineup against the Nationals on Saturday.

Howard will sit out because left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez will take the mound for the Nationals. This season, Howard is hitting a pedestrian .138 with eight hits in 58 at-bats against left-handed pitchers.

Mets manager Terry Collins acknowledged Thursday that shortstop Wilmer Flores could move to second base once Daniel Murphy returns from the disabled list, as Ruben Tejada -- who has been playing second and third base with Murphy and David Wright on the disabled list -- would take over at shortstop.

Flores seems just fine with moving to second base.

"I don't mind," Flores told NJ Advance Media. "As long as I'm in the lineup. That's all that matters.

"I feel good in both positions. I feel like I can play. I'll just play anywhere they want me to."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt extended his hit streak to six games, despite the Rockies' willingness to walk him on Thursday.

Goldschmidt picked up two walks -- giving him 59 on the season -- but managed to go 1 for 2 with a RBI.

Over his last six games, Goldschmidt is hitting .316 with six hits, a home run and six RBI.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman received a platelet-rich-plasma injection earlier this week, in hopes of expediting his return from a wrist injury, according to MLB.com.

Freeman was placed on the 15-day disabeld list on Tuesday with a wrist contusion, and there is currently no clear timetable for his return to the lineup. He is eligible to come off the DL on July 3, but it seems more likely his return will be just before or following the All-Star break. 

The Mets have begun discussions about shifting Ruben Tejada to shortstop and Wilmer Flores to second base once Daniel Murphy returns from the disabled list, a team source told the New York Post. Murphy is expected to play third base with David Wright sidelined.

“That would be the best defensive alignment,” the source said.

The Mets have been hesitant to move Flores because they don't want to break his confidence, according to the Post. However, the team believes he could handle the switch and move back to shortstop later in the season, if needed.

Mets manager Terry Collins ackowledged the report Thursday and said moving Flores to second base is "a possibility." 

"I don't think that's a major shakeup," Collins said, per NJ.com.

Tejada has been bouncing between second and third base while Murphy and Wright have been on the disabled list.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit his third home run in his past 10 games during Wednesday night's 8-7 win over the Rockies. 

Goldschmidt blasted a two-run bomb in the fifth inning to give him 20 for the year. Over his last 10 games, Goldschmidt is hitting .343 with nine RBI. That's pretty much in line with the .353/.471/.655 slash line Goldschmidt has posted this far this season. 

What was anticipated has become reality - the Braves have placed first baseman Freddie Freeman on the 15-day disabled list with a right wrist contusion. The move is retroactive to June 18.

Freeman has been experiencing discomfort in the wrist lately and had been out of the lineup since last Wednesday.

His absence will be felt. His slugging percentage of .520 would be his best ever if maintained the rest of the year.