MLB Player News

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit his fifth homer -- a two-run blast in the fourth inning -- and finished 1 for 4 to lead Arizona to a 3-2 victory over Colorado Thursday. Goldschmidt's home runs this season have come with at least one runner on base leading to 18 RBI, which is tied for fourth in the National League.

Goldschmidt has reached base safely in six consecutive games and all but one of his 22 games overall. He paces the Diamondbacks with a .325 batting average.

Astros left fielder Chris Carter doubled for the first time this season Thursday in his team's loss to the Red Sox, going 1 for 4 as Houston's designated hitter. Carter entered the game with five home runs and even a triple.

Carter has a modest four-game hitting streak and a .222 batting average. He also struck out twice to give him a league-worst 37 strikeouts this season.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto had the only hit of the game for his team in an 8-1 loss Thursday to the Nationals, a solo home run in the fourth inning off Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez. It was Votto's fourth home run in 111 plate appearances this season.

Votto also struck out once and didn't draw a walk but still has a 25:26 K:BB ratio this year.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not concerned about his high strikeout total this season.

In an interview with MLB.com, Rizzo said he's typically struck out more often early in the year but is able to adjust as the season progresses.

"I need to simplify things more and start slapping the ball around. The home runs are going to come. I need to worry about low line drives instead of trying to hit four home runs in one at-bat," he said.

It seems like Rizzo understands what his issues have been thus far, and will look to make some improvements. While the power has been nice, Rizzo would like to try and get back to the line-drive approach he showed last year. 

The Indians have been pleased with catcher Carlos Santana's defensive progress, but they believe he has plenty of room to grow.

"He's had a hot start offensively," Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. told MLB.com. "I think he's still working behind the plate. I mean, he's still further ahead offensively than defensively, but he's doing the job, and he's taking more pride in his defense."

Santana said his communication with pitchers is also improving.

"In the years before, I tried to talk to them, but I was a little shy," Santana said. "But this year I feel comfortable, and the pitchers will come to me when I'm playing."

Part of the reason for his communication struggles has been his limited English, but it appears that's becoming less of a concern.

"That's been a big turnaround for him," Alomar said. "When it comes to getting everything better, from a catching point of view, and for the pitchers, you have to have good communication. His language has to get better in order for him to do that. That will open up a whole world of possibilities. If you restrict yourself with communicating, it's going to be hard for you to improve behind the plate. That's a big key for him, and he's doing much better with that."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not having a strong start, but he should see improvement.

Rizzo has displayed an odd change in skills, possibly brought on by adjustments to his swing. As our Chris Towers explained, Rizzo's strikeout and fly ball rates are up. Although this usually leads to lower batting averages on balls in play, Rizzo's .167 BABIP rate is among the league's worst this year. 

Rizzo's hitting will improve, but the strikeouts will limit his average. He could rebound to hit around .250 but might add enough power to offset the batting average decline. Fantasy owners shouldn't give up on him.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has struggled against lefties this year but hit his second home run of the season Wednesday off left-hander Wandy Rodriguez as the Phillies fell to the Pirates, 5-3.

Howard is hitting .273/.293/.416 in 82 plate appearances. He'll try and extend his six-game hitting streak Thursday against the Pirates.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was scratched from Wednesday's lineup at Chicago White Sox because of right quadriceps soreness. Cabrera sustained the injury on a stolen-base attempt in the eighth inning Monday.

Mike Aviles started at shortstop in Cabrera's absence. Cabrera has hit safely in his last four games, batting .308 (4 for 13) with one double and two RBI.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana was scratched from Wednesday's lineup at Chicago White Sox because he's been under the weather the last two days. Lou Marson came off the disabled list to start at catcher for Cleveland.

Santana is batting .286 (6 for 21) with two home runs, three doubles and four RBI in his last five games. He is day to day.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt doubled and homered in Tuesday's win over San Francisco.

Goldschmidt had gone five days without an extra-base hit heading into Tuesday, his longest such streak of the season. He unloaded in a big way, adding three RBI and a run scored to his six total bases. He now owns a .329/.416/.566 batting line.