MLB Player News

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will not be in the lineup against the Nationals on Saturday.

Howard will sit out because left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez will take the mound for the Nationals. This season, Howard is hitting a pedestrian .138 with eight hits in 58 at-bats against left-handed pitchers.

Mets manager Terry Collins acknowledged Thursday that shortstop Wilmer Flores could move to second base once Daniel Murphy returns from the disabled list, as Ruben Tejada -- who has been playing second and third base with Murphy and David Wright on the disabled list -- would take over at shortstop.

Flores seems just fine with moving to second base.

"I don't mind," Flores told NJ Advance Media. "As long as I'm in the lineup. That's all that matters.

"I feel good in both positions. I feel like I can play. I'll just play anywhere they want me to."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt extended his hit streak to six games, despite the Rockies' willingness to walk him on Thursday.

Goldschmidt picked up two walks -- giving him 59 on the season -- but managed to go 1 for 2 with a RBI.

Over his last six games, Goldschmidt is hitting .316 with six hits, a home run and six RBI.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman received a platelet-rich-plasma injection earlier this week, in hopes of expediting his return from a wrist injury, according to MLB.com.

Freeman was placed on the 15-day disabeld list on Tuesday with a wrist contusion, and there is currently no clear timetable for his return to the lineup. He is eligible to come off the DL on July 3, but it seems more likely his return will be just before or following the All-Star break. 

The Mets have begun discussions about shifting Ruben Tejada to shortstop and Wilmer Flores to second base once Daniel Murphy returns from the disabled list, a team source told the New York Post. Murphy is expected to play third base with David Wright sidelined.

“That would be the best defensive alignment,” the source said.

The Mets have been hesitant to move Flores because they don't want to break his confidence, according to the Post. However, the team believes he could handle the switch and move back to shortstop later in the season, if needed.

Mets manager Terry Collins ackowledged the report Thursday and said moving Flores to second base is "a possibility." 

"I don't think that's a major shakeup," Collins said, per NJ.com.

Tejada has been bouncing between second and third base while Murphy and Wright have been on the disabled list.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit his third home run in his past 10 games during Wednesday night's 8-7 win over the Rockies. 

Goldschmidt blasted a two-run bomb in the fifth inning to give him 20 for the year. Over his last 10 games, Goldschmidt is hitting .343 with nine RBI. That's pretty much in line with the .353/.471/.655 slash line Goldschmidt has posted this far this season. 

What was anticipated has become reality - the Braves have placed first baseman Freddie Freeman on the 15-day disabled list with a right wrist contusion. The move is retroactive to June 18.

Freeman has been experiencing discomfort in the wrist lately and had been out of the lineup since last Wednesday.

His absence will be felt. His slugging percentage of .520 would be his best ever if maintained the rest of the year.

It's highly likely that Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will wind up on the disabled list on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. 

Freeman has been experiencing right wrist discomfort and underwent an MRI on Monday. The Braves have yet to release the results of the MRI. However, Freeman did not travel with the Braves to Washington for the upcoming three-game series against the Nationals.

If Freeman does end up on the DL, Joey Terdoslavich will probably be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. This season, Freeman is hitting .299 with 12 home runs.  

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will undergo an MRI on his sore right wrist on Monday, per MLB.com.

Freeman, who has missed four consecutive games due to the injury, was hopeful about playing during his team's weekend series against the Mets, but the injury didn't improve as he wanted.

"[My wrist] is not worse, it's just not getting better," Freeman said. "I really don't have an answer until I can maybe get an X-ray or an MRI. I just want to know what is wrong."

Freeman is hitting .299 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 254 at-bats this season.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a solo home run in the first inning of Sunday's win over Minnesota. 

Rizzo hit his 15th home run of the year and fourth in the last five games, spanning 18 at bats. 

"The guy's got to be on the All-Star team -- let him play shortstop, I don't care," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, per MLB.com. "I know there are other really good first basemen and it's probably the most loaded position there is, but what he's done is remarkable. I've not seen it in person."

Rizzo went 2 for 4, walked once and scored twice. He drove in his 43rd run of the season.