MLB Player News

Marlins second baseman Donovan Solano, on the 15-day disabled list with an intercostal strain, told the Sun Sentinel Tuesday that his injury is improving but he is not ready to start swinging a bat.

Solano has been sidelined since May 7. He had a .278/.333/.324 slash line with one home run and five RBI in 108 at-bats before landing on the DL.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who entered play Monday mired in a 4-for-23 slump, belted out two hits, including his fifth double, and scored twice in a 10-1 win against the Diamondbacks. Freeman is batting .260 (13 for 50) with one home run, three doubles and seven RBI in 12 May games.

However, Freeman has managed two home runs and a .402 slugging percentage in 25 games after hitting seven home runs and slugging .658 in 76 at-bats during spring training.

Entering Monday against the Braves, Diamondbacks' cleanup hitters combined to hit .214 and post a .307 slugging percentage through 38 games. With No. 3 hitter Paul Goldschmidt putting up impressive numbers, it could lead more teams to pitch around the young slugger.

However, manager Kirk Gibson cautions opposing teams from doing that because Goldschmidt can not only get it done at the plate, but he has deceptive speed on the base paths.

"If they’re going to pitch around him, then one good thing about having Goldy up -- his running game’s pretty good, too," Gibson said, per The Arizona Republic. "So if they’re going to do that, then they might have to deal with him in a different regard."

Goldschmidt, who finally got his first day off Sunday, slugged his 10th home run Monday and is batting .378 (14 for 37) with five home runs and 13 RBI in 12 May games.

"Obviously, he’s a great player and a really tough out," outfielder Cody Ross said. "A lot of times, pitchers are going to pitch around him, so there definitely needs to be some protection coming out of the fourth hole."

Astros outfielder Chris Carter smacked his ninth home run of the season Sunday afternoon against the Rangers.

Carter took reliever Derek Lowe deep in the eighth inning for a three-run home run. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and three RBI in a 12-7 defeat.

Carter has homered twice in his last five games played. He is hitting .228 with nine homers and 22 RBI in 127 at-bats.

The Cubs have reached an agreement with first basemen Anthony Rizzo on a seven-year deal worth $41 million, FOX Sports reports citing major-league sources. According to the report, the deal includes two club options and escalators that could extend the deal through 2021, while increasing the total value to $73 million.

Rizzo is batting .280/.352/.538 with nine home runs and 28 RBI over 143 at-bats.

Phillies first basemen Ryan Howard picked a perfect time to snap out of his recent funk at the plate. Howard, who had been hitless in his previous 18 at-bats, looped a two-run single into right field off reliever Matt Reynolds in the 10th inning of a 4-2 win. He finished 1 for 5.

"When he's going bad, he looks bad, but he can take one swing and get the game over," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said.

Even with his go-ahead single Sunday, Howard has struggled in May with seven hits over his last 41 at-bats (.171) and has struck out 19 times.

After starting the Diamondbacks' first 37 games this season, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was held out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia. Goldschmidt ranks among the NL leaders in a host of offensive categories, including a second-place spot with 30 RBI.

Eric Hinske took his spot at first base against the Phillies. He has recorded fewer hits (six) in 27 games this season than Goldschmidt has totaled in his past six outings (eight).

Braves outfield prospect Joey Terdoslavich continues to tear up pitching in the International League. After hitting .318 in 27 games for Triple-A Gwinnett in April, Terdoslavich is batting .395 (15 for 38) with three home runs and eight RBI through 10 May games.

Terdoslavich's slash line through 37 games is .338/.353/.593/.946. He has one triple, seven home runs, 14 doubles, 18 runs and 24 RBI. It's been a nice rebound for Terdoslavich, who hit .180 in 53 games for Gwinnett last season before a demotion to Double-A Mississippi.

Terdoslavich entered the season as the Braves' 15th-best prospect, according to MLB.com.

Angels first base prospect C.J. Cron fell a triple shy of the cycle Saturday for Double-A Arkansas. Cron, who belted a career-high 27 home runs in 2012, homered for just the second time, but he's batting .350 (14 for 40) in his last 10 games.

"They usually come for me, so homers are never really anything I worry about," Cron said, per MLB.com. "I'm just sticking with the same approach that's worked with everything else. Obviously, I'd like to have more than just two, but they'll come."

Cron, who is considered the Angels' third-best prospect by MLB.com, is batting .315 with a .460 slugging percentage in 32 games. He has one triple, four stolen bases, 10 doubles, 11 runs and 18 RBI.

Cubs first basemen Anthony Rizzo continued his hot hitting Saturday against the Nationals. Rizzo collected three hits in the 8-2 win, including a two-run single in the fifth inning.

He also singled in the fourth and seventh innings, finishing 3 for 5 with two RBI.

Rizzo has hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games and is batting .467 (21 for 45) with one home run, seven doubles and nine RBI over that stretch.