MLB Player News

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected from Wednesday's game at Pittsburgh after he bumped an umpire, reports ESPN's Baseball Tonight.

Votto was 0 for 2 with one strikeout in the game before being ejected. It is his fifth career ejection.

Struggling first baseman Michael Morse was held out of the Marlins lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday. Morse hasn't recorded a hit since April 28, and will receive his fourth day off in the last five games.

Justin Bour, who has seven hits in 14 at-bats since being recalled on April 25, was the starting first baseman for the third straight day for manager Mike Redmond.

The Mets are committed to Wilmer Flores at shortstop, despite his seven errors in 27 games, and manager Terry Collins recently told him so, reports the New York Post.

“I told him today, ‘Fresh start, Day 1. Let’s get after it, and be the player we know you can be,'" Collins said.

Flores performed like that player Tuesday night, lashing a key double off the wall in left field as part of the Mets’ three-run fourth inning that led to a 3-2 victory over the Orioles at Citi Field.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 in Tuesday's loss to St. Louis. Rizzo extended his hitting streak to six games and lifted his batting average to .333.

Rizzo scored twice and hit his fifth double of the season.  

The Phillies were shut out on three hits by Atlanta on Tuesday. Ryan Howard contributed one of the few bright spots on offense with a double, for the team's only extra base hit of the night. 

Howard went 1 for 4, lifting his average to .195. He recorded his fifth double of the year.  

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 3 for 4 with three runs scored in Tuesday's win over Philadelphia. 

Freeman put the Braves on top to stay with a two-run home run in the first, his fifth homer of the year. His two RBI gave him 14 this season. He imrpoved his average to .301. 

If you figure Marlins first baseman Michael Morse is upset with Mike Redmond for playing Justin Bour ahead of him lately, figure again. He completely understands.

Morse, after all, is batting just .183 with two home runs and eight RBI in 23 games. He has fanned 28 times, including in three of four at-bats Sunday. So never mind the two-year, $16 million deal he signed in the offseason.

"I'm always just about winning and I'm happy for anybody that gets a chance to play - especially [Justin] Bour," Morse told the Miami Herald. "He's swinging the bat awesome. ... Even if I was in there (Tuesday) I'd probably run into the manager's office and tell them, 'Better play that guy.'"

Bour has seven hits in 12 at-bats and homered Monday.

If the sight of Braves right-hander Shelby Miller on the mound doesn't snap Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard out of his 7-for-40 slump, perhaps nothing will.

Howard only has seven career at-bats against Miller, but he has certainly done plenty of damage. He has four hits, including three home runs and six RBI. He has also walked twice.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo slugged his fourth home run Monday night. No big deal there. He hit 32 last season.

But Rizzo also stole his seventh base in the loss to St. Louis. Big deal. That's a career-high and we're barely into May.

What is most intriguing is that Rizzo, who has never been considered a speed demon by any stretch, has all seven stolen bases in his last 15 games.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went 1 for 3 at the plate in Miami's 6-4 loss to the Nationals on Monday. Bour did his damage in the seventh inning when he ripped a Jordan Zimmermann pitch over the left field wall for a solo shot, his first of the season.

Bour is now hitting .583 on the year in 12 at-bats.