MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order for Tuesday's matchup with the Pirates, while Jorge Soler has been bumped down one spot and is batting third.

It's the third time in a row that manager Joe Maddon has used this configuration against a lefty, with Rizzo batting behind Soler in the team's last eight matchups with a righty. The lefty first baseman actually performed better against lefties last season, hitting .300/.421/.507 with eight home runs in 140 at-bats, and the trend has carried over this April.

The Cubs are favorites (-117) against the Pirates Tuesday.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was ejected in Monday night's game against the Nationals.  

As seen by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien, Freeman flipped his helmet and said something to umpire Bill Welke after striking out. He wasn't immediately tossed from the game but earned an ejection soon after. 

Chris Johnson replaced Freeman at first base in the sixth inning. 

Freeman finished 2 for 3 and now has a slash line of .254/.321/.493. 

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores hit just .182 over the season's first 10 games, but credits manager Terry Collins for sticking with him as his bat begins to warm up, per NJ.com.

Flores saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end in Sunday's loss to the Yankees, but he has raised his average to .276 with three homers - tied for second in the majors among shortstops. 

"I know that everything would come around and I would start doing good," Flores said. "I've had the opportunity to play everyday in the minors and I know how it goes. If I start everyday I know I'm going to hit. Just gotta keep pushing, keep pushing. I have the opportunity to play everyday so that's why I wasn't worried about it."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has been on a tear recently, registering three home runs in his last five games, but according to MLB.com, he's not taking his streak as a sign of anything other than the natural ebb and flow of the game. 

Howard is hitting .235 (4-for-17) with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, three strikeouts and a 1.080 OPS in his last five games, numbers much better than the ones he posted at the start of the season. 

"That's baseball," Howard said. "You just continue to go out there and swing. I feel like I've been swinging it well. The results may not necessarily show, but it's all about how you are feeling with the swings. Eventually, they will drop."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in his team's 5-4 win over the Braves Sunday.

Howard wiped out a 2-0 first-inning deficit with his three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and though the Phillies lost the lead in the third inning, they were able to pull out a victory to take two game out of three against the Braves. Howard has hit just .193/.246/.404 but has three home runs and nine RBI in 57 at-bats.

Braves right fielder Nick Markakis is leading off and shortstop Andrelton Simmons is batting second for the second straight game Sunday.

Both players saw their first appearances in those respective positions in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Phillies and will reprise their roles Sunday. In addition, lefty Kelly Johnson is batting cleanup for the first time this season, with first baseman Freddie Freeman slotting in third for the second straight day (and the third time this season).

The Braves are underdogs (+100) against the Phillies Sunday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday in Philadelphia's 5-2 win over the Braves.

Howard did his damage in the fourth inning when he ripped an 0-1 pitch from Shelby Miller over the center field wall, scoring Jeff Francoeur, his second of the season. Howard is now hitting .189 with six RBI in 53 at-bats this season.

Marlins first baseman Mike Morse is out of the starting lineup on Saturday, for the first time this season. Morse had gotten the call at first base in all 17 games this year. 

Justin Bour, just called up from Triple-A on Friday, gets the start at first base, batting fifth. 

The Marlins are +140 money line underdogs at home against Washington. 

With Christian Yelich on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury, the Marlins could turn to Ichiro Suzuki to fill that void in left field, MLB.com reports.

Suzuki has made seven starts this season for Miami, five of which have come at right field. He is hitting .257 (9 for 35) with a triple and an RBI in 16 appearances.

Although the Marlins don't have a true backup outfielder on the roster, third baseman Martin Prado has some experience as a corner outfielder. Donovan Solano has also seen some playing time at left field back in 2012.

The Marlins placed outfielder Christian Yelich on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain. Yelich has missed the last three games, and the transaction is retroactive to April 20. 

Yelich is hitting .200 with no home runs and four RBI this season. 

To replace Yelich on the roster, the Marlins called up first baseman Justin Bour from Triple-A New Orleans. Bour was hitting .275 for New Orleans this season with one home run and five RBI. 

Bour played in 39 games for the Marlins last season, hitting .284 with a homer and 11 RBI.