MLB Player News

Flores is still experiencing neck stiffness, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports.

It appears that Flores is feeling much better than he was Saturday, but he's not quite at 100 percent. X-rays revealed no damage to his neck, so consider Flores day-to-day heading into Monday's outing against the Nationals.

Votto went 4-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs in an 8-7 victory over the Pirates on Saturday.

The former MVP is absolutely killing the Pirates this weekend. Votto is 7-for-9 with three RBI in the last two games, both of which were one-run victories for Cincinnati against reeling Pittsburgh. And although his home run Saturday was initially just insurance, it proved to be the difference in the game. Votto has carried his hot August hitting, which saw him post a .394 batting average and 1.107 OPS in the month, into September. In nine games, he is slashing .448/.528/.621 this month.

Flores said x-rays on his neck came back negative, but it remains painful, Adam Rubin of the ESPN.com reports.

Flores was removed from Saturday's game against the Braves after his head-first slide into home plate ended in a collision with Atlanta catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

Flores departed Saturday night's game against Atlanta after a collision at home plate, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reports.

Flores went headfirst into home plate, colliding with Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski, and appeared to hurt himself somewhere in the head/neck/shoulder area. Flores, who started the game at first base, left under his own power and was replaced by James Loney.

Flores is out of the lineup Saturday against the Braves, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports.

Kelly Johnson will get the start at second base against righty John Gant as the Mets look to get the platoon advantage Saturday. Flores has been playing almost every day lately and is slashing .296/.340/.520 with six home runs in 106 plate appearances since the start of August.

Carter is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Carter will get a rare day off Saturday after going 2-for-12 over his last four games. Hernan Perez will get the start at first base in Carter's place.

Bell made his second straight start in right field Friday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI groundout.

The Pirates are giving Bell a chance at his regular position with Starling Marte (back) sidelined. He was unable to run down a shallow popup along the right field line, which eventually led to a Cincinnati run. Since Aug. 21, Bell has started 18 of 23 games, compiling a .260/.371/.380 line with one home run and seven RBI.

Votto went 3-for-4 with an RBI single in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.

The veteran's third-inning single plated pitcher Tim Adleman and opened the scoring on the night, and the overall production extended Votto's torrid hitting stretch. He posted a stellar .394/.471/.636 line in August with a whopping 26 RBI and has gotten September off to a similar start. The 33-year-old is slashing .375/.484/.417 over his first 24 at-bats of the new month.

Joseph is not in the lineup Friday against the Nationals, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

This marks the second day in a row Joseph will cede the start at first base to Ryan Howard. The 25-year-old has been scuffling with the bat lately, so it seems the Phillies are just trying to get Joseph some rest to try to kickstart his production again.

Bour is not in the lineup for Friday's tilt with the Dodgers, Eric Stephen of SB Nation reports.

Bour was just activated off the disabled list Tuesday after spending roughly two months on the shelf with an ankle injury, and with left-hander Clayton Kershaw (back) taking the hill for Los Angeles, Friday posed a good opportunity to get the slugger a day to rest. Chris Johnson will take over for him at first base for the night.