MLB Player News

Rizzo went 4-for-5 and scored a run in Monday's win over the Padres.

Rizzo has just one home run in 20 games in August, but he has been making opposing pitchers pay in other ways. He owns a solid 9:10 BB:K and mashed his eighth double of the month in Monday's win. His batting line for August sits at a cool .383/.451/.568, proving he can be plenty productive even when he isn't depositing the ball into the bleachers.

Freeman homered, walked, scored three times and drove in three runs in a 3-for-4 game Monday against the Diamondbacks.

Freeman's home run tied the game in the top of the ninth only for the Braves to lose on a walk-off shot from Paul Goldschmidt in the bottom of the frame. He missed Sunday's game with a finger injury, but it didn't look like it was bothering Freeman at all. Freeman is now up to 25 home runs and continues to build on a career high in home runs. He needed 147 games to hit his previous career high, 23 home run, in both 2012 and 2013.

Goldschmidt went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI and a walk-off solo home run in Monday's win over the Braves.

This marks just Goldschmidt's second home run in August, but he's been bringing it in every other facet of the game. He has scored 19 runs thanks to a ludicrous 20:14 BB:K and now owns a .338/.473/.535 line in 20 games in August. If that wasn't enough, he has also thrown in five stolen bases as he continues to be one of the most well-rounded fantasy players in the league.

Carter hit his 30th home run and walked twice in a 1-for-2 game Monday against the Rockies.

Carter has hammered three home runs in the past four games. Monday's blast gave him his second 30 home run season of his career, his first since he hit 37 with the Astros in 2014. Carter continues to rake at Miller Park -- 21 of his 30 home runs have come at his home park, one of the best hitter's yards in the league.

Freeman (finger) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Freeman was held out of Sunday's lineup after receiving an injection in his finger Saturday, but it appears that was all the time he needed to recover. Freeman will man first base and hit third in the Braves' batting order Monday night.

Votto continued his assault on pitchers this month, going 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored on Monday against the Dodgers.

Votto has been impossibly hot at the plate since the All-Star break, hitting an even .450. Despite his incredibly sluggish start to the season, Votto should now challenge his 80 RBI and .314 average from a season ago. The Reds' first baseman has been remarkably consistent over his career, and this season is proving to be no different.

Bell went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's loss to the Marlins.

He continues to rake in the majors and Bell now has an absurd .500/.556/1.000 slash line with a home run and five RBI through his first six at-bats. His defense was as shaky as advertised though and while he didn't commit a fielding error in his first big league start, two other Pirates did get charged with throwing errors on plays a slicker first baseman might have been able to salvage. The Pirates would seem to have little to lose by letting Bell's stick carry him through his growing pains with the glove, but his defensive issues could prevent him from seizing a full-time starting role.

Freeman was out of Sunday's lineup after receiving a painkiller injection in his right middle finger Saturday night that carries with it a 48-hour recovery, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Freeman has reportedly been dealing with the finger injury since spring training, but must have been worse than usual following Saturday's game. The injection cost him his first game of the season Sunday and likely leaves his status for Monday's contest questionable as well. Consider the star first baseman day-to-day for the time being.

Howard is in the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, Stephen Gross of the Morning Call reports.

Tommy Joseph will head back to the bench as Howard gets the nod to start at first and bat cleanup. Howard owns a disappointing .197 batting average for the season, but has hit .345/.387/.776 with seven home runs since the All-Star break.

Freeman is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Freeman is riding a 10-game hitting streak and has a good track record against Sunday's opposing starter, Gio Gonzalez, but he also has not had a day off since April 14, so manager Brian Snitker decided to give him one Sunday. Nick Markakis will get the start at first base in Freeman's place.