MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo's two-homer performance Friday against the Marlins was a result of a fix with a mechanical issue in Rizzo's swing, according to the Chicago Tribune. Manager Dale Sveum and hitting coach James Rowson found the issue while watching film on Rizzo's swing.

"I'm not going to get into specifics," Rizzo said. "But the finish was a little high, even on some of the home runs, which I didn't like. It was good (Friday). This is going to sound stupid, but the single in my last at-bat was probably my favorite one because that's my swing there -- stay inside the ball. It was a good day overall for myself and the team. It sounds dumb, but looking back at the video, the swing is where I want it to be."

Twins first base prospect Chris Colabello is batting .301 through 23 games for Triple-A Rochester. Colabello also has four doubles, six home runs, 11 runs and 17 RBI, which has helped him produce a .358 on-base percentage, .566 slugging percentage and .924 OPS.

Colabello was one of the players featured in this week's Five on the Farm portion of the Down on the Farm prospects column.

The Astros gave outfielder Chris Carter a rest Sunday in Boston against John Lackey and the Red Sox. Carter has been seeing everyday playing time. 

He went 0 for 4 on Saturday at Boston and has gone 5 for 22 (.227) over his last six games with a homer and two RBI. Carter has played in 24 games this season with five home runs and 12 RBI. He's batting .216. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was absent from the lineup for Sunday's contest against the Mets after starting the previous seven games. Howard, who has pushed his batting average to .281 on the heels of a nine-game hitting streak, was replaced at first by Kevin Frandsen.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana played for the first time since Monday against the Royals Saturday night. After missing time with an illness, he went 1 for 4 with a single in the 3-2 loss.

The 27-year-old is batting .345 with four home runs and nine RBI.

After missing two games with right quadriceps soreness, Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned Saturday against the Royals. He went 1 for 4 with a single in the 3-2 loss.

Cabrera is batting .162 with two homers, five RBI and a stolen base.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo notched the second multi-home run game of his career Friday night against the Marlins. Rizzo, who hails from South Florida, belted a pair of long balls in the 4-2 win, including a two-run shot off Wade LeBlanc in the opening frame.

He also touched up LeBlanc for another two-run bomb in the third, accounting for all four of Chicago's runs.

Rizzo, who entered the contest mired in a 1-for-20 slump, finished 3 for 4 with four RBI, two runs scored and a steal.

Rizzo's eight home runs are the most in franchise history for a left-handed hitter during the month of April.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard provided his pitcher all the offense he would need, hitting a three-run home run in his team's 4-0 win over the Mets Friday night. It was the third home run of the season for Howard, who is hitting .282/.300/.459 in 90 plate appearances.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana is back in the Indians lineup Friday, Newsradio WTAM reports.

Santana has been out of the lineup since April 22 due to an illness. Expect him to return to an everyday role (or very close). Santana is hitting .352/.435/.704 with four home runs and seven doubles in 54 at-bats.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is back in the lineup Friday against Kansas City, Newsradio WTAM reports.

Cabrera has been out since April 22 with quadriceps soreness. In 17 games, the 27-year-old is hitting just .156/.229/.281 with 19 strikeouts.