MLB Player News

Manager Pete Mackanin said that Howard would start Wednesday against the Cubs, Matt Bree of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Howard had a good outing on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk. The southpaw will get the chance for the second consecutive game to hit against a right-handed pitcher on Wednesday, John Lackey.

Goldschmidt hit his 11th home run as part of a 3-for-4 game with two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's win over Tampa Bay.

Goldschmidt managed his first multi-hit game since May 31 and raised his average from .262 to .272 in the process. While Goldschmidt has been excellent this year, with a .429 OBP and .490 SLG, the .300 batting average he has produced in each of the past two years has yet to show up. Part of that is a lack of lineup protection -- Goldschmidt has walked 55 times in 59 games and isn't getting much to hit. Still, it will only take a few more games like Tuesday's for Goldschmidt to get his average back to where we're used to, and if anybody's capable of rattling a few such games off in a hurry, it's Goldschmidt.

Howard went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Cubs.

The 36-year-old slugger has endured a forgettable year, and has lost a solid amount of playing time recently to rookie Tommy Joseph. Tuesday's production was therefore a sight for sore eyes as far as Howard is concerned, and his homer was the first time he'd gone deep since May 11 versus the Braves. While he's struggled at the plate plenty over the last two seasons, he seems to have hit a new low this year, as his average continues to sit well below the Mendoza Line. It remains to be seen if Tuesday's output will garner Howard a stretch of starts on a surprisingly competitive Phillies squad.

Carter homered twice and drove in five runs in a 2-for-4 game in Tuesday's win over Oakland.

The story with Carter continues to be his ridiculous home-road splits. Carter has now hit 12 of his 16 home runs at Miller Park as he continues to feast on Milwaukee's short fences. Daily fantasy players take note -- Carter was hitting .230/.274/.584 with 24 of his 34 RBI at home and just .211/.295/.378 on the road before Tuesday's game and only exacerbated those splits with another big game at home against the Athletics.

Bour is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Bour will head to the bench Tuesday in order to get more right-handed hitters in the lineup against the Twins' lefty starter Pat Dean. Chris Johnson will replace Bour at first base and bat seventh.

Howard will start at first and bat fifth on Tuesday against the Cubs, Kevin Cooney of Calkins Media reports.

Howard hasn't started since May 31 due to manager Pete Mackanin giving Tommy Joseph an extended look at first base. Joseph has performed well this season, slashing .311/.313/.590 over 61 at-bats, and it seems Mackanin may give him the more permanent nod to start. Howard is likely slotted in the lineup Tuesday in order to place more left-handed hitters in the lineup against right-handed starter Kyle Hendricks.

Joseph is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Kevin Cooney of Calkins Media reports.

Joseph will cede the starting first base spot to Ryan Howard, who will bat fifth. Joseph has begun to take over at first base lately due to Howard's struggles at the plate. Manager Pete Mackanin likely moved Howard into the lineup to give Joseph a day off, and to pack the lineup with left-handed hitters against righty starter Kyle Hendricks.

Manager Pete Mackanin said he is nearing a long-term decision regarding playing time at first base for Joseph and Ryan Howard, Corey Seidman of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Mackanin will likely name Joseph his starter at first base. He went 2-for-4 with a solo homer Monday and is now hitting .311 with five home runs since his promotion from the minors last month.

Howard will be back in the lineup Tuesday, according to manager Pete Mackanin, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

This will be Howard's first start since May 31, as the Phillies gave Tommy Joseph a chance to prove himself at first base. Mackanin has stated that he will make a decision about how to move forward soon, but with Joseph recording multi-hit games in three of his five starts, it isn't looking good for Howard.

Rizzo is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

The opposing Diamondbacks are sending southpaw Patrick Corbin to the hill, so the timing was right for Rizzo to get just his second day off of the season, as he's hitting just .186 against lefties on the year. Kris Bryant will take over for Rizzo at first base, while Javier Baez gets the nod at the hot corner.