MLB Player News

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour smacked his sixth home run of the season during Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Reds. Bour hit the solo shot off Michael Lorenzen in the second inning.

Bour went 2 for 3 with one RBi during the game. Prior to his two-hit game Sunday, Bour had been hitting .130 with two RBI in his last eight games.

Braves outfielder Jonny Gomes and first baseman Freddie Freeman are being held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets, reports MLB.com.

Gomes is dealing with a quad injury and it will be the fifth-straight game he has not started in.

Meanwhile, a wrist injury will sideline Freeman for the fourth-consecutive game Sunday. He took swings Sunday, but was still sore and he may need an MRI on Monday.

The Braves are underdogs (+125) against the Mets on Sunday.

Ruben Tejada is in the starting lineup at shortstop for the Mets on Saturday. 

Tejada gets his eighth start at the position this season and first since June 6. He's started the last six games at third base.

Tejada replaces Wilmer Flores at short. 

A wrist ailment continues to sideline Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mets.

His wrist remained a problem when he took a few swings Saturday, leading to speculation that he could be out until at least Tuesday, per MLB.com.

Freeman has been down since Wednesday, when his six-game hitting streak was halted.

Freeman is expected to have an MRI on Monday before the team travels to Washington, D.C. for a set with the Nationals. 

"[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."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was an offensive bright spot for what was an otherwise ugly evening on Friday. Howard launched a three-run home run, his 13th of the year, in the bottom of the fifth innning against the Cardinals, but it wasn't enough to avoid the 12-4 defeat. 

Howard has homered in back-to-back games for the fourth time this season. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo provided the only offense for his club on Friday, as the Twins defeated Chicago 7-2. Rizzo popped a pair of solo home runs, his 13th and 14th of the season.

The power-hitting Rizzo now has five home runs over his last 13 ballgames, and is batting .304 overall this season. 

Braves red-hot first baseman Freddie Freeman will cool his heels on the bench Friday night against the Mets after sustaining a right wrist sprain Wednesday. Kelly Johnson will play the position instead.

Freeman hopes he can play Saturday, but admitted there is a chance he will be forced to skip the entire weekend series since his wrist remains sore, per MLB.com.

He had seven home runs and 18 RBI in his previous 19 games before going down.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit his 12th home run of the season in Thursday afternoon's 2-1 win over the Orioles. 

Howard hit a two-run homer off of Bud Norris in the sixth inning that ultimately served as the game-winner. He finished the game 2 for 3 and also hit a single. It was Howard's first home run since June 5. 

Howard now has a slash line of .236/.276/.471. 

Reds first baseman Joey Votto has returned to the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers. 

Votto did not start Wednesday but did play in the eighth and nine innings, notching a single in his lone at-bat. Votto is hitting .298/.398/.549 this year with 14 home runs and 36 RBI. Votto will bat third against the Tigers. 

As expected, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Red Sox after suffering a right wrist sprain Wednesday. Kelly Johnson started in his absence at first base.

Thursday was just the second time this season that Freeman didn't start. The other time was May 31. 

He is batting .328 with four doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, 14 runs, seven walks, 13 strikeouts and two stolen bases through 16 games in June.