MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to seven games Saturday against the Cardinals with a solo home run. He is batting .433 (13 for 30) with one double, two home runs and five RBI in his last seven games.

Including his two-homer game July 30, Freeman is batting .380 (35 for 92) with three doubles, five home runs, 15 runs and 20 RBI in his last 23 games.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto connected for his 19th home run Saturday against the Brewers. He finished 2 for 5 with one strikeout.

Votto is batting .301 (22 for 73) with one triple, three doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, 12 runs and 20 walks in 21 August games.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is unlikely to return this season as he continues to work his way back from knee surgery. Howard began baseball activities Thursday and has already lost 15 to 20 pounds, according to general manager Ruben Amaro.

"With him being healthy and having the whole offseason and spring training ahead of him, I think he can get to that," interim manager Ryne Sandberg said, per MLB.com. "Baseball shape, getting trimmed up into a weight that's a playing weight, along with having his knee behind him. I think he favored that this year, not really having his leg strength all the time with his batting."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo will remain in the two-hole Thursday against the Nationals.

Rizzo was moved to the two-spot Wednesday, and responded with a strong game. Rizzo will have another chance to show what he can do at the top of the order. He's hitting .232/.325/.437 in 469 at-bats. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman picked up three hits Wednesday against the Mets.

Freeman hit three singles, finishing the game 3 for 5. He scored one run and knocked in one RBI. Freeman is hitting .314/.390/.479 in 430 at-bats. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo responded well to hitting No. 2 in the order for the first time in his career Wednesday, as he socked a pair of homers in an 11-6 loss to the Nationals. 

Rizzo opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning and then added a two-run shot in the fifth. He finished the game 3 for 4 with three RBI, two runs scored and a walk.

Rizzo is hitting just .232 on the season, but he topped the 20-homer plateau with his performance Wednesday. He ranks 10th in the National League in home runs now. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been moved to the second spot in the order Wednesday against the Nationals.

Rizzo has struggled as of late, but took early batting practice prior to Wednesday's game. He's hitting .228/.321/.422 in 465 at-bats. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a grand slam Tuesday against the Reds.

Goldschmidt hit a J.J. Hoover fastball out to left in the eighth inning. It was Goldschmidt's 31st home run. Goldschmidt also walked, finishing the game 1 for 3. He scored one run and drove in four RBI, giving him 100 on the season.

Goldschmidt is hitting .297/.393/.552 in 462 at-bats. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo failed to make much of an impact Tuesday night against the Nationals.

Rizzo, who missed Monday's game with an illness, finished 0 for 4 with a strikeout in a 4-2 defeat. He has only two hits over his last 28 at-bats. He is hitting .228 with 18 homers and 65 RBI in 465 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will begin doing baseball activities Thursday, according to the Philadephia Inquirer.

Howard has been out since early July following knee surgery. The club is unsure if he'll return this year. Howard is hitting .266/.319/.465 in 286 at-bats.