MLB Player News

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is expected to be back this season after undergoing surgery Wednesday for a debridement of his left medial meniscus. According to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Howard's knee was in better shape than expected, which could change the team's outlook.

"After [Phillies physician Michael] Ciccotti went in there and went in with the scope, it was a little better picture than we thought," Amaro said. "I think the player is feeling better about it, we're feeling better about it. As news goes, this is as good as we can get."

The Phillies have yet to decide whether they will be sellers at the trade deadline, and the fact that Howard could return earlier than initially expected might change their plans. His official timeline is six to eight weeks.

"There's a reasonable chance we'll have him back at some point. We still have a lot of question marks about where we're going to go in the next couple of weeks," Amaro said. "Right now, the team is making decisions a little harder on me, which is fine and which is good. I'd rather be in this situation than thinking about 2014 right now."

Howard was hitting .266 with a .784 OPS prior to his injury. 

The Phillies announced first baseman Ryan Howard had successful knee surgery Wednesday morning. He is expected to need 6-8 weeks to recover.

Cubs outfielder Anthony Rizzo ended his home run drought at 13 games with a solo blast Tuesday against the Angels. Rizzo also ended his multi-hit slump at seven games.

Rizzo has had a tough start to July, batting .133 (4 for 30) in eight games. Though, it comes on the heels of a rough run in June as well. Rizzo hit .231 (21 for 91) with two home runs and 12 RBI in 26 June games.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto thought he put his team ahead in the top of the ninth inning Monday against the Brewers with a two-run homer, but Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez had other ideas. Gomez robbed Votto of a potential game-winning home run, sealing a 4-3 win for Milwaukee.

"I was pretty surprised," Votto said, per MLB.com. "I thought off the bat it was going to be a non-catch. He went up and made a pretty big play in the game. It was my first experience with that. It was kind of a random way to end the game."

Votto did have a single and walk Monday against the Brewers. He is batting .338 (26 for 77) with four doubles, four home runs, seven RBI, nine runs and 10 walks in his last 20 games.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will miss 6-8 weeks with a torn meniscus in his knee, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Howard was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with knee inflammation. He was supposed to have an MRI Sunday or Monday. Howard is hitting .266/.319/.465 in 286 at-bats. 

The Phillies have not ruled out surgery for Ryan Howard, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday due to chronic knee inflammation.

Howard is scheduled to undergo an MRI Sunday or Monday, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. The Phillies aren't expected to make a decision until his MRI results return.

"If he needs surgery, we'll take care of it," Amaro said. "If he doesn't, we'll rehab him and try to get him back."

The Phillies placed Ryan Howard on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, due to chronic knee inflammation. Howard had been in and out of the lineup over the last few weeks, and was scratched from Saturday's game before the roster move was made.

Darin Ruf was called up to take Howard's place on the active roster. 

Despite entering Friday with just a .503 OPS against left-handers, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard homered off Braves lefty starter Paul Maholm in Friday's 5-4 win over the Braves. It was his only hit in four at-bats.

Howard owns a .266 batting average, 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 286 at-bats. He's 4 for 13 in July after ending June on a 0-for-18 skid.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit his 15th home run of the season in a 4-2 loss to the Mariners Friday. He was the only person on his team with a multi-hit game, going 2 for 4.

Votto has gotten on base in 20 straight games and has a .325 batting average in 323 at-bats.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is starting first baseman Ryan Howard in Friday's game against the Braves with a left-hander on the mound and does not consider Howard a platoon player, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

"I don't look at Ryan Howard as a platoon player yet," Manuel told the Inquirer Friday. "I think he can still hit and still get going. His knee does bother him. If we're going to rest him against somebody, it should be against a lefty. But at the same time, it doesn't mean he is a platoon player yet."

Howard has hit .169/.217/.286 in 77 at-bats against left-handers.