MLB Player News

Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's loss to the Cubs.

The Arizona lineup couldn't get any ducks on the pond for Goldy, who managed just one RBI despite collecting six total bases. Goldschmidt is already tops on the team with seven RBI, but the glaring absence of A.J. Pollock from the lineup has curtailed his production just a bit to this point.

Votto went 2-for-3 with a walk in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Pirates.

The veteran All-Star bounced back from a hitless outing on Friday to post his first multi-hit game of the new season. Votto now has walks in three straight contests as well, one of the constants across his stellar career. Despite only tallying a .211 average over his first 19 at-bats, Votto's considerable pedigree would point to an imminent resurgence at the plate.

Carter went 2-for-4 with a double and two-run homer in Friday's 6-4 victory over the Astros.

The veteran slugger victimized his former teammates, launching his first home run of the year in the first inning off Scott Feldman. Carter has at least one hit in each of the last three games and figures to offer plenty of power as Adam Lind's replacement at first base this season.

Votto went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs against Philadelphia on Thursday.

Votto is just for 2-for-12 in his first three games this season, and the slugger has struck out four times. He hasn't found his power source early on with his two hits both being singles.

Rizzo went off in Arizona on Thursday, going 3-for-6 with a triple, a homer, six RBI and three runs.

Yeah, that's the stuff. Three games into the season, Rizzo already has two homers, nine RBI and more walks (three) than strikeouts (two). Last season's 17 steals seem unlikely to be repeated, but it wouldn't at all be surprising to see Rizzo set new career marks in homers and batting average this year.

Howard went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Thursday's loss to the Reds. His two-run homer in the fifth inning off rookie Robert Stephenson was Howard's first of the season.

Howard is hitting .333 (3-for-9) with one home run and two RBI through the team's first four games. Last season, the first baseman hit a dismal .194 in April, so it is encouraging to see him start the 2016 campaign with some success. The 36-year-old is well past him prime, but Howard still has the power to make a significant impact in any format.

Carter went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's win against the Giants.

It was Carter's first homer as a Brewer. After enjoying his best season as a pro in 2014, the first baseman took a big step backward last season due to an inability to make consistent contact and a high strikeout rate. Through his first three games with Milwaukee, Carter already has the sort of stats you'd expect from him -- he's 2-for-9 (.222) with a home run, three RBI and three strikeouts.

Howard is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.

As expected, Darin Ruf will replace Howard in the lineup Wednesday with the Phillies facing Cincinnati lefty Brandon Finnegan. Unless Howard has an unexpected turnaround against left-handed pitching, expect Howard to sit out in place of Ruf on most days where Philadelphia faces a southpaw.

Goldschmidt homered and drove in four runs in a 2-for-4 effort in Tuesday's win over Colorado.

Goldschmidt also tripled, which will help take the sting out of an 0-for-4 Opening Day line. Even with his brilliance last season, Goldschmidt had just four games with a home run and another extra-base hit in 2015, so this was a huge game for the Arizona first baseman.

Manager Pete Mackanin confirmed Friday that Howard will open the year in a platoon with Darin Ruf at first base, Corey Seidman of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Howard will start at first on Opening Day for the Phillies, but will sit in their second game Wednesday against the Reds. He will get the majority of the at-bats since he is on the strong side of the platoon. Howard had an .802 OPS and 20 home runs in 367 at-bats against right handed pitching last season.