MLB Player News

Howard will get a start during the Phillies' series against the Cubs this week, Evan Webeck of MLB.com reports.

Tommy Joseph will make his fifth straight start at first base Sunday, and then will be in the lineup Monday against Jon Lester. Howard will likely start Tuesday. If Joseph keeps hitting, Howard's opportunities will be limited the rest of the season.

Votto went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a walk in Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Nationals.

The veteran first baseman continued his recent resurgence, one that has seen him lift his average 20 points since May 22. Part of that improvement has been in the power department, as Votto now has four homers over his last nine games. He's also currently riding a six-game hitting streak, and is already slashing .357/.500/.714 over his first 14 at-bats in June.

Joseph went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Brewers.

Joseph continues to generate solid returns in Ryan Howard's stead, now having hit safely in three straight contests. The 24-year-old has four homers over just 53 at-bats, and is slashing .283/.286/.528 for the season. If he's able to maintain his current level of production, he may well hold on to the first base job for the long term.

Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Saturday's 5-3 victory over Arizona.

After a lackluster May, Rizzo's bat has come alive in June. The 26-year-old slugger has gone 6-for-16 with a double, two homers, three RBI and a pair of walks over four contests in the new month. The pair of round-trippers has been particularly encouraging, considering Rizzo went deep only three times over 100 at-bats during May.

Cabrera went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Friday's 6-2 victory over the Marlins.

The switch-hitting shorstop was slotted out of the two-hole, and hit safely for the fourth time in the last five games. The homer was his third in the last nine contests, after he'd managed only two on the season prior to May 24. Cabrera is now slashing .275/.333/.404 over 193 at-bats this season.

Flores went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, walk and two runs scored in Friday's 6-2 victory over the Marlins.

The 24-year-old has found success at the plate hard to come by this season, as even Friday's multi-hit effort still leaves his average at a sub-Mendoza-Line .191. Flores may have an opportunity to finally hit his stride in the coming weeks, as he's being given an opportunity to man third base every day while David Wright recovers from a herniated disk in his neck.

Rizzo was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in the Cubs' win over Arizona on Friday afternoon.

Rizzo is hitting just .246 on the season, but he likes to produce when it matters and now has 39 RBI on the year. On Friday he looped a double over the center fielder's head to break up a scoreless tie and propel the Cubs to another win.

Dixon had a huge week in Double-A Pensacola, hitting .647 with five homers. He's hitting .312/.361/.560 for the season.

Dixon came over to the Reds in the three-way Todd Frazier deal, joining the team from the Dodgers' system. The former third round pick in 2013 has often struggled to make consistent contact, and that's been the case this year as well as his strikeout rate is 25.2 percent. He has doubled his walk rate from last year's Double-A stint, though it still sits at only 7.1 percent.

Flores will get the first chance to replace David Wright (herniated disc in neck) at third base.

Flores was signed as a shortstop but moved to third base as he physically matured prior to shifting to a utility role. If Flores can replicate the power he provided last season, when he blasted 16 home runs and drove in 50 runs in 137 games, it would go a long way to making up for Wright's absence and enable Flores to remain in the lineup. Ty Kelly and Matt Reynolds are also in the hot corner mix, while T.J. Rivera, who is raking at Triple-A but not on the 40-man roster, could also factor into the equation.

Carter went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two strikeouts against Philadelphia on Thursday.

Carter has a lot of power in his bat, so he'll always have fantasy value, but he needs to make more contact to become more consistent threat. This was Carter's first homer since May 20, and it's no secret that he's been struggling at the plate of late. Carter has hit only .143 (6-for-42) over the past 10 games.