MLB Player News

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is likely headed to the disabled list with a left knee injury, according to FoxSports.com senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal. It's the same knee that required surgery in 2012.

The report added that Votto did not make the trip with the team to Philadelphia and that he's scheduled for an MRI.

Votto has taken a step back this year after a disappointing 2013 in which he eschewed an aggressive approach at the plate for greater patience and wound up with just 73 RBI. He has just six home runs and 12 RBI in 2014 and his average has fallen to an uncharacteristic .257. He scored 101 runs last season to just 19 so far this year.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun will begin a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake Friday, as he continues to work his way back from a sprained ankle.

According to the Orange County Register, Kalhoun expects to be back from the disabled list Tuesday, assuming he avoids a setback while on rehab. Kalhoun was hitting .250/.297/.500 in 60 at-bats before suffering the injury in mid-April. 

The three-hit game achieved by Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on Wednesday night was merely an extension of a hot streak that began on May 7.

Cabrera, whose average bottomed out at .205 the day before, has 14 hits in his last 30 at-bats for a .480 stretch. He has three doubles, two home runs and 10 runs scored in the last seven games.

The tear has motivated Terry Francona to elevate Cabrera into the fifth spot in the lineup. His .259 batting average is at its highest point since the second game of the season.

Indians third baseman Carlos Santana went 1 for 4 with two walks, one home run, two RBI and three runs in his team's 15-4 win over the Blue Jays Wednesday.

Santana knocked his two-run home run in the fifth inning to put his team up 4-0, but he wasn't a major part of the fireworks in the last three innings, in which the Indians put together 11 runs. He has hit .154/.324/.301 with five home runs and 13 RBI in 136 at-bats.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in his team's 4-2 win over the A's Wednesday.

The White Sox entered the eighth inning down 2-1 before the crucial home run put them ahead for good. Abreu has the major-league in home runs with 15, and no one else has hit more than 11. He owns a .271/.320/.620 line with 41 RBI in 166 at-bats.

The Twins have given slumping right fielder Chris Colabello the night off for the game Wednesday against visiting Boston. Eduardo Nunez is set to man the position.

The talk of baseball in April has fallen on hard times as his average has fallen to .248. He is hitless in his last 13 at-bats and hasn't achieved a multi-hit game since April 23.

White Sox slugger and first baseman Jose Abreu will serve as the designated hitter Wednesday in Oakland.

He will also receive a rest from playing the field Friday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. He should be back at first Saturday.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was the team's DH for a fifth straight game Tuesday against the A's due to a sore left ankle.

Manager Robin Ventura is expected to keep Abreu out of the starting lineup Wednesday or Friday to allow for a two-day rest coupled with Thursday's off-day, per the Chicago Sun-Times.

"There’s nothing structurally that you’re concerned about," manager Robin Ventura said.

When the Angels first promoted C.J. Cron to the big leagues in early May, I suggested he might not be worth the trouble in mixed leagues, pointing to his low walk rate as a way for pitchers to exploit him in the majors.

It was a logical enough stance and one I'd probably take again if presented with the same information for a different player. But with Cron homering for the second straight game Monday, I'm beginning to think it was the wrong one.

While it's true Cron didn't walk much during his time in the minors, he made contact at an exceptionally high rate for a power hitter. Compared to George Springer's one strikeout every three at-bats over his minor-league career, Cron had one every six -- or less than that, actually. More contact can only help a player's batting average.

Again, power is the main draw for Cron, and true to form, he has yet to walk in eight big-league games. But if he makes up for it by making consistent contact, he may have the upper hand on pitchers after all.

Of course, he'll have to play every day for any of this to matter, but as things stand now, I'm willing to take a flier on him as a corner infielder in Rotisserie leagues.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores said Tuesday he's available off the bench after missing Monday's game due to a stomach virus, per MLB.com. However, he was left out of the starting lineup after Mets manager Terry Collins chose to start Ruben Tejada.