MLB Player News

Twins surprising first baseman Chris Colabello has slumped off since a torrid start, but has remained productive at times. One of those times was in the sixth inning of the game Thursday in Cleveland when he slammed a two-run double to put his team on the board.

Colabello has exactly one hit in each of his last six games, but hasn't had a multi-hit game since April 23 and has just eight hits in his last 51 at-bats to lower his average from .346 to .271. He is still among the American League leaders in RBI with 30.

Embattled Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera got picked off first Thursday and allowed a dribbler to turn into a two-run single, but he had one heck of a day at the plate against Minnesota.

Cabrera not only recorded his first four-hit game since May 5, 2012, but nearly hit for the cycle. He slammed a home run in the second, single in the fifth, double in the seventh and another double in the eighth that could have been ruled a triple. Cabrera had rounded second when the throw was heaved to the plate.

His six hits in the last two games has raised his average from .205 to .238.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores was called up Thursday, the team announced. 

The move was expected late Wednesday, as the team designated Omar Quintanilla for assignment. Flores hit .307 in 114 at-bats in Triple-A. 

The Mets are expected to promote infielder Wilmer Flores from Triple-A Las Vegas Thursday, according to ESPN.com. Flores will likely take the roster spot left vacant after Omar Quintanilla was designated for assignment.

Flores will likely see some playing time at shortstop, though how he will split time with Ruben Tejada remains to be seen. He appeared in 27 games with the Mets a year ago, posting a .211/.248/.295 line in 95 at-bats, but is hitting .296 with five home runs and 23 RBI in 28 games for Triple-A Las Vegas. 

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun ran on the field before Wednesday's game "pretty close to full intensity," MLB.com reports. Calhoun will join the team in Arizona over the weekend, and he hopes to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday.

Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt put his team ahead to stay Wednesday with a two-run homer in the third inning and added a single against Milwaukee.

Goldschmidt has been on a tremendous stretch that extends back to late April. He has 18 hits in his last 40 at-bats with four homers, seven runs and seven RBI. His tear has raised his average from .306 to .342 and sweetened his slugging percentage to .555.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt remained hot Tuesday, going 3 for 5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in his team's 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Goldschmidt popped a two-run home run in the first inning, and his three-hit game gives him four straight multi-hit outings as he continues to pummel National League pitching during an eight game hitting streak. The Diamondbacks first baseman has hit .342/.384/.555 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 146 at-bats.

After extending his hitting streak to five games by going 1 for 4 with a walk against the White Sox on Monday, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is hitting .386 in 17 home games.

He's 6 for 15 with six RBIs and six runs scored in the hitting streak.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun participated in live batting practice before Monday's game, MLB.com reports.

Calhoun is close to being able to jog on the field, according to manager Mike Scioscia. The outfielder is recovering from a sprained ankle, and he is hoping to begin a rehab assignment in about two weeks.

Judging by his pedigree and minor-league track record, C.J. Cron probably has a future in the majors, perhaps even as an everyday player. But I don't know that he's worth a roster spot in mixed leagues only two games into his career.

Yes, he's looked good so far, going 5 for 9, but power is more his game. His lack of plate discipline could make him a liability in batting average at the big-league level. Twice he got more than 500 at-bats in a minor-league season, but never did he get more than 23 walks.

Of course, he was hitting .319 for Triple-A Salt Lake at the time of his callup, but for comparison's sake, Mark Trumbo, another former Angel with poor plate discipline, hit .301 at the same level. And clearly, he hasn't offered much in the way of batting average.

Then again, Trumbo has had a place on mixed-league rosters, high batting average or not, since he first became an everyday player in 2010. But is Cron ready to deliver Trumbo-like power in his first stint in the big leagues? I'm skeptical, but I think that's his best bet for mixed league-caliber production.

I'm not saying Cron doesn't have his place in Fantasy, but when I look on the waiver wire in those formats, I see players I'd rather have, like Corey Hart, James Loney or even Lucas Duda.