MLB Player News

Astros designated hitter Chris Carter apparently didn't take kindly to a three-game benching by Bo Porter. He responded upon his return to the lineup Wednesday by blasting two home runs in successive innings during a thrashing of Kansas City.

Carter slammed a solo job in the fifth and three-run homer in the sixth. Not bad considering he had not recorded a multi-hit game since May 16.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun has been a little ice cold since returning from the disabled list, going 1 for 16 (.063) in six games since his return. In fact, he's been held out of the starting lineup twice in that span since coming off the DL, including Tuesday at Seattle.

However, as I wrote in this week's Waiver Wire column, I don't think this is a good time to give up on Calhoun. In fact, if he's available in your Fantasy league, I wouldn't hesitate to add him to your roster.

You really have to be a fan of Calhoun's upside. Even before he went on the DL with an ankle injury, Calhoun was slugging .500 in 14 games and averaged 16.3 Fantasy points over the first three scoring periods. In the minors, Calhoun hit .320 with a .403 on-base percentage, .545 slugging percentage and .948 OPS over 358 games. That's a serious slash line.

Maybe Calhoun isn't off to a banner start this season, but to me that screams he's a perfect buy-low candidate since he's a player that's not living up to his potential right now.

Astros designated hitter Chris Carter is back in the team's starting lineup Wednesday against the Royals.

Carter isn't dealing with an injury, but has not played since May 24. He'll hit fifth and serve as the designated hitter. Through 156 at-bats, he's hitting .192/.278/.391.

Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron belted his third home run Tuesday.

In the top of the eighth, Cron led off the inning against Tom Wilhelmsen. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Cron clubbed a 96 mph fastball out to left for the solo shot. He added a double earlier in the contest.

Cron finished 2 for 4, with two runs and two RBI.

Though he was hoping to serve just the minimum time on the DL, it appears unlikely that Joey Votto will be back in the Reds' lineup this Saturday when eligible.

"This particular injury doesn't have a due date on it," manager Bryan Price told MLB.com Tuesday. "Our target goal is to get him pain free and get his strength up to a level to expect his performance to be more like what we've seen in the past. I'm not sure we can get there all the way this year. But we want to get him to a place where he's confident he will not have regression."

Votto is making progress, but still had some pain as of Tuesday. Votto is not traveling with the team for its current two-city road trip, so it looks like he is likely out until the end of an upcoming series in Arizona. That series ends Sunday, one day after he is eligible to return. 

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg hinted Tuesday he could move to a Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf platoon at first base, per the Philadelphia Daily News. 

"If it works. If it produces, then it becomes a possibility going forward," Sandberg said.

The Indians announced Tuesday they placed catcher Carlos Santana on the 7-day disabled list due to a concussion. Santana was hurt after getting hit on the mask Sunday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard came up big at the plate, leading his team to a comfortable 9-0 victory over the Rockies.

Howard singled in a run in the fourth and took starter Jhoulys Chacin deep for a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He also added a two-run single in the seventh for his third hit of the day. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and five RBI. He is hitting .236 with eight homers and 30 RBI in 178 at-bats.

The Indians "aren't sure" whether catcher Carlos Santana is just ill or dealing with a concussion after getting hit on the mask Sunday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Santana didn't play Monday and will likely be put through concussion testing if the team feels that he could be facing that type of injury. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated Tuesday. Santana has hit just .159/.327/.301 with six home runs and 17 RBI in 176 at-bats.

Indians third baseman Carlos Santana was scratched from Monday's lineup against the White Sox due to an illness, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.