MLB Player News

Indians designated hitter Carlos Santana went 1 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 4-3 win over the Angels Monday.

Chisenhall's fourth-inning home run broke a 3-3 tie and proved to be the final run of the game. He's managed an extra-base hit in each of his last four games, going 6 for 15 with two home runs and two doubles during that stretch. Santana has hit .191/.346/.358 with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 215 at-bats.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went 1 for 2 with two walks and a two-run home run in his team's 4-3 win over the Angels Monday.

Cabrera opened the scoring Monday with his first-inning home run, and he managed to reach base two more times via free passes. He had drawn three walks in 13 games this month before his pair of walks Monday. Cabrera has hit .255/.324/.412 with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 255 at-bats.

The Marlins announced Monday they recalled first baseman Justin Bour from Triple-A New Orleans and demoted infielder Donovan Solano to the Triple-A club. The Marlins also designated reliever Kevin Slowey for assignment.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a two-out solo home run off A.J. Burnett in the first inning Sunday at Philadelphia, giving Travis Wood all the run support he would need in a 3-0 win. Wood tossed eight scoreless innings in the victory.

Rizzo's 14th home run was his fourth in his last 11 games. He's also batting .341 (14 for 41) with four doubles, nine runs and nine RBI in his last 11 games.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is batting .316 (6 for 19) with two doubles and three RBI in five games since returning from a left quadriceps strain, which kept him sidelined for close to a month.

"I feel good. It's been a bit of an adjustment coming back but I feel totally fine," Votto said, per MLB.com. "Usually, the thing I pay attention to is the way I look and feel when I work before a game. During a game, most of it is instincts and trying to execute a plan. Before a game, you get a good idea of what your physical capacity is. And I feel great before the game. I'm hitting the ball well during batting practice. I'm capable of doing what I want to do."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run in his team's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers Saturday.

Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to eight games with his home run, which was his third home run during the current streak. He has hit .309/.373/.560 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI in 275 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is playing at less than 100 percent, according to MLB Network Radio. 

"I don't think he's 100 percent, but I think he's being a warrior out there and we need him," third baseman Todd Frazier told the station. Votto has picked up four hits in three games since his return. He's hitting .267/.416/.459 over 146 at-bats.

Astros designated hitter Chris Carter played the role of a hero Thursday night in extras against the Diamondbacks.

Carter belted a walkoff solo home run in the 11th inning off J.J. Putz. He finished 1 for 5 with one run scored and one RBI in a 5-4 victory. He is hitting .199 with 13 homers and 30 RBI in 196 at-bats.

Chris Carter's two homers Wednesday give him six in his last 13 games, which would normally be a good thing. But not when those homers are six of only eight hits during that stretch, accounting for a .229 (8 for 35) batting average.

Carter has become the game's preeminent all-or-nothing hitter. He swings hard and usually misses, but when he gets a hold of one, it goes a long way. He hit .223 with 29 home runs last year, and the way things are shaping up this year, that may be the best-case scenario for him.

So what is that player worth in Fantasy? In Head-to-Head leagues -- at least ones of standard size -- close to nothing. When he's cold, he's positively useless, and taking a zero (or maybe 5-10, given his above-average walk rate) from a player for weeks at a time is one way to pile up losses. Even in Rotisserie leagues, it takes a special set of circumstances to use him. You need to be firmly committed to him, sticking with him through all the miserable weeks so you don't miss out on stretches like this one, and willing to take your lumps in batting average.

I know home runs are rare these days, but not enough for all that.

After a terrible start to his contract year, Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has gained consistency and production.

Cabrera bottomed out at .205 on May 6, but has 36 hits in 118 at-bats since for a .305 mark. He has scored 26 runs in 29 games during that stretch and has sweetened his stat line to .255/.324/.400.

His range and dependability on defense, however, has been weak and it remains to be seen if he will be dealt at the trading deadline to make room for promising minor leaguer Francisco Lindor. Much could depend on whether Cleveland remains in contention for a playoff spot or division title.