MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was in the team's starting lineup Thursday against the Astros. 

Freeman left Wednesday's game after being hit with a pitch, but the injury isn't considered serious. He'll hit third and play first base. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will play Thursday, according to MLB.com.

Freeman let Wednesday's game after being hit on the elbow with a pitch. Freeman will wear a pad above his right elbow, but is otherwise good to go. He's hitting .286/.375/.495 over 297 at-bats.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu went 2 for 5 with a walk and a record-setting home run in his team's 5-4 loss to the Orioles Wednesday.

Abreu became the first player in major-league history to hit 23 home runs in his first 65 games played after slugging his fourth-inning home run. It was his fourth home run in his last eight games, and the slugger now owns a 10-game hitting streak. He has hit .276/.325/.615 with 61 RBI in 257 at-bats.

The Mets optioned infielder Wilmer Flores to Triple-A Las Vegas Wednesday, to make room on the active roster for the return of Juan Lagares from the disabled list Thursday.  

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was forced to leave Wednesday's game against the Astros, but he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution he shouldn't miss much time.

Freeman left the game in the top of the eight, after he was hit on the elbow by a pitch. Fortunately, he told the Constitution he hopes to return to action Thursday, after doctors told him he would not need an X-ray.

Freeman finished the game 1 for 3 with two strikeouts prior to the injury. The Braves close out the series against the Astros Thursday. 

Marlins infielder Donovan Solano is on his way back up Wednesday.

Solano will replace Adeiny Hechavarria on the active roster. Hechavarria hit the disabled list due to a triceps injury. Solano has already been up this season. He hit .196 over 51 at-bats. 

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana's renaissance continued Tuesday, as he reached base six times in an extra-innings loss to the Diamondbacks.

Santana played a huge part despite the 9-8 loss in 14 innings, going 4 for 5. He did hit a go-ahead homer in the 11th inning, but the Diamondbacks tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Santana scored twice and walked twice, while driving in two runs.

Santana got off to a slow start, and only got his average above .200 last weekend. He is now hitting .214/.366/.408 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI in 237 at-bats overall.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 7-4 win over the Reds Tuesday.

Rizzo's home run was his second in two days and his third in his last four games. During a six-game hitting streak over the past week, the first baseman has gone 11 for 24 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBI. Rizzo has hit .288/.404/.523 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI in 267 at-bats.

Ever since coming off the 15-day disabled list, Joey Votto has not hit for much power, as he has yet to hit a home run in 13 games for the Reds. He does have five doubles over that span to go with a .300 batting average and a .410 on-base percentage. That's not a bad combination, but going forward, Fantasy owners should not look for a resurgence of home run power to go along with the rest of his stat line.

Even before his DL stint, Votto's home run power had been diminished, and for the second straight season, his flyball rate has dipped. Last season, it plunged from 33 to 23 percent, and so far in 2014, it has fallen just below the 20 percent mark. While many Fantasy owners were less than thrilled about Votto's 24 home runs from a season ago, he's not a safe bet to reach even 15 this year.

Votto has always been able to square up the ball, and this season's 36 percent line drive rate and 2 percent popup rate show he hasn't lost that skill at all. His ability to draw walks, hit for average and produce doubles will make him close to an elite first baseman in points leagues, but in Rotisserie formats, he can no longer be counted on to be a top five option at the position.

Indians infielder Carlos Santana has been highly productive since returning from the disabled list June 6, a 16-game stretch in which he's played first base 14 times. Santana began the season as a third baseman and backup catcher.

Over the recent span, Santana is 19 for 57 (.333) with five homers and 12 RBI.