MLB Player News

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is getting the day off Tuesday against the Royals, due to minor soreness in his back, manager Robin Ventura told reporters.

Abreu is available to pinch-hit off the bench Tuesday, and is expected back in the lineup in time for Wednesday's game. This is the first game Abreu has missed since he returned from the disabled list in early June.  

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Twins, as a result of a back injury suffered during Monday's game.

Cabrera is considered day to day at this point, after leaving Monday's game in the second inning with back spasms. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was removed from Monday's game due to lower back spasms, the team announced.

Cabrera struck out on the top of the first inning and played two innings in the field, but the team pinch-hit for him in the top of the third. He has hit .247/.308/.392 with with nine home runs, 39 RBI and seven stolen bases in 365 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto underwent a second round of of platelet-rich plasma injections on Monday, MLB.com reports. Votto was placed on the disabled list on July 8, as a result of a lingering left quadriceps injury. He is approximately 4-5 weeks away from returning.

"That is a part of his recovery," manager Bryan Price said. "There's a couple of days of ... I don't want to say total inactivity, but resting it and not doing a lot on the knee and then returning to his rehab protocol. It's a good thing, because it's a part of his recovery that we think is going to be very effective."

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu owns an 11-game hitting streak after going 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored Sunday. He's batting .400 (18 for 45) during the streak.

Abreu has hit safely in 29 of his past 30 games, hitting .353 in that span. For the season the All-Star is batting .293 with 29 homers and 74 RBI.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun went 3 for 5 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mariners. Calhoun is up to 11 homers, 26 RBI and 51 runs scored. He sports a .291/.348/.513 line in 234 at-bats.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores, who has been rotating between second base, third base and shortstop at Triple-A Las Vegas, is on a 20-game hitting streak. Despite very good numbers (.325/.580/.950) at Las Vegas, manager Terry Collins hinted Sunday it doesn't appear a recall is imminent.

"I don’t want to bring young guys up here and have them sit on the bench," Collins said, per ESPN. "I just don’t think it’s good for their development. If Wilmer Flores comes, I think he’s going to have to play someplace, because I don’t think he gets anything out of sitting on the bench playing once a week. 

"If he was going to be the future utility player down the road, OK, maybe. But this guy’s bat potential is so good, there’s nothing wrong with going and having a big year in Triple-A."

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told MLB Network Radio Sunday that first baseman Joey Votto (quadriceps) and second baseman Brandon Phillips (thumb) are about 4-5 weeks away from returning.

"We're hopeful that they will be back for the stretch run -- end of August or first week of September," Jocketty said.

A matchup against southpaw Alex Wood has Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard out Sunday in Atlanta.

Howard has just one hit in his last 18 at-bats and owns a disappointing .216 batting average against lefties this season.

The Angels optioned first baseman C.J. Cron to Triple-A Salt Lake Saturday, to clear room on the active roster for the acquisition of Huston Street.

Cron's demotion comes as a surprise, as he is hitting .269/.297/.480 with nine home runs and 27 RBI in 53 games this season.