MLB Player News

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour will bat fourth in the lineup on Monday against the Diamondbacks, the first time he has done so this year, the team announced.

Bour, who will make just his fifth start of the year, will replace Michael Morse at first. Marcell Ozuna, the normal cleanup hitter, will slide down to fifth.

"Putting Justin there, putting him in the four hole," manager Dan Jennings said to Fox Sports Florida. "Trying to create some left, right leverage in the lineup. Let's see what happens. As I told these guys. There are 13 position players that are going to be utilized. We'll get guys days off, we'll use the bench, we'll rest our regulars. We all need to be ready to contribute when the bell rings.

J.T. Realmuto also returns to the lineup on Monday after getting the day off Sunday.

The Marlins are currently the favorites (-122) against Arizona.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and first baseman Ryan Howard are not in the lineup for Sunday's matchup with the Diamondbacks.

Utley is 3 for 6 with a walk, two doubles and two RBI in two games since being moved from third to sixth in the lineup, but he'll get a break Sunday, with Andres Blanco filling in at second base and batting second.

Howard had started seven straight games coming into Sunday's contest, hitting .259/.310/.444 with one home run and three RBI in 27 at-bats during that stretch. Darin Ruf is drawing the start at first base.

The Phillies are home underdogs (+115) against the Diamondbacks Sunday, per VegasInsider.com.

Diamondbacks All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 1 for 4 with his 10th home run of the season in Saturday's loss to the Phillies. Goldschmidt's two-run shot came in the top of the fifth to cut his team's deficit to 4-3.

Goldschmidt now has six hits (four for extra bases) in his last seven games. 

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores hit his second career grandslam, as the Mets pulverised the Brewers 14-1 on Saturday. Flores' slam was his team-leading sixth home run of the season and came during the team's 10-run fourth inning.

"I was looking for something up," Flores said to NJ.com. "It was a fastball. He threw it right down the middle, and I was ready for it. I put a good swing on it.

"A good feeling," he said of hitting his team-best sixth home run of the year. "Every time you hit a homer it's a good feeling, but with the bases loaded and in this situation, it feels good. As a team and for myself."

Flores, who went 2 for 4 with four RBI on Saturday, is now hitting .250 on the season as he continues to be the Mets' primary option at short.

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores has struggled on defense so far this season. Manager Terry Collins was hoping his bat would step up, but instead he's struggled there as well, according to ESPN.com.

"If he had 11 home runs and was hitting .285 right now, there would not even be a discussion," Collins said. "He'd be driving in a lot of runs."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 7 in Friday's 12-inning win over Pittsburgh. Rizzo extended his hitting streak to eight games and increased his average to .341. 

Rizzo hit a solo home run, his eighth of the season, and drove in two runs, giving him 22. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 1 for 2 with an RBI in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Mets and was hit by a pitch twice, the second for the major league-leading 11th time this season.

"Getting on base is the name of the game," Rizzo said while wearing a large ice bag on his thigh after Thursday's game, per MLB.com. "I don't like getting hit by any means, but I have no idea [why it's happening]."

The Cubs' single-season mark for getting hit by pitches is 17, and the first baseman was hit 15 times last season.

"Hopefully, it stops at 11," Rizzo said.

Rizzo has hit .336/.470/.597 with seven home runs, 20 RBI and seven stolen bases in 119 at-bats.

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores hit a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the Cubs. 

Flores went deep with a solo shot in the fourth inning, his fifth of the season, driving in his eleventh run.

After a 1-for-4 day, Flores is hitting .238. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit his seventh home run of the season during Thursday afternoon's 4-2 win over the Pirates. 

Howard went yard in the fifth inning off of Radhames Liz, hitting a solo shot to right field. Howard finished the game 3 for 4 as he also recorded two singles. He's now hitting .230/.293/.478 this season. 

Howard is now hitting .293 in his last 12 games. 

Cubs manager Joe Maddon swapped first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant in the batting order for Thursday's contest against the Mets.

Rizzo, who has been in the No. 3 hole 25 times this season, was moved to the second spot in the order. Bryant will bat third for just the second time this season, and the first time since May 6.

Bryant has homered three times in May, and is hitting .297 (11 for 37) with a double, a triple and nine RBI in his last 10 games. Rizzo is also having a strong month, hitting .347 (17 for 49) with four doubles, one triple, five homers and 10 RBI in 13 games this month.

Chicago is favored (-118) at Wrigley Field against the Mets, per VegasInsider.com.