MLB Player News

Howard is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

Howard's absence is not particularly surprising given that the Philles are squaring off against Nationals lefty Gio Gonzalez. Darin Ruf will get the start at first base with the Phillies employing a righty-heavy lineup on Sunday afternoon.

Rizzo was 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Rockies.

Rizzo and Jorge Soler went back-to-back with solo homers in the fourth versus Christan Bergman. It was the slugger's first dinger since Apr. 7 versus the D-Backs, ending a seven-game drought. Despite the power surge Saturday, Rizzo is only 2-for-22 over his last six outings, and is hitting .200 over his first 11 games.

Cabrera is hitting .294 but has just one batted in and a .704 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Cabrera, after very slow start, hit 15 home runs last year and has blasted at least 14 his last five seasons. The power and runs batted in should come, though it looks like the Mets and his fantasy owners will need to be patient to see them.

Bour went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI, two runs and a walk Saturday against the Braves.

Bour's first bomb of the season brought the Marlins within two runs in the sixth inning of a game they'd go on to lose. He's now hit safely in seven of his eight games while raising his batting average to .333.

Howard was 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Phillies' loss to Washington on Friday night.

The 36-year-old Howard now has four home runs and seven RBI but it comes with a weak .219 average. The Phillies are in rebuilding mode, and Howard would be on another roster if the Phillies could find a taker, but he's past his prime and there just isn't much demand for the aging slugger.

Votto went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer Friday at the Cardinals.

Votto's first homer of the year pulled the Reds within a run of the Cardinals in the third inning of a game they'd go on to lose. He's gotten off to a slow start, as the bomb was also his first extra-base hit in 10 games this season. In addition, he's only driven in runs in two of his last nine starts. There's no doubt that better days are coming for the Reds' slugger.

Freeman said he is "frustrated" with his start to the 2016 season but is "100 percent healthy," Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The first baseman admitted that a lack of bat speed is the reason for his early-season slump, but he refused to say there was anything physically wrong with his body. Freeman battled a right wrist issue over the last four months of 2015 and did not take regular batting practice as a precaution during spring training. He is 1-for-24 (.045) with nine strikeouts since hitting a home run on Opening Day.

Rizzo went 0-for-4 against the Reds yesterday, his fourth hitless game in a row.

Rizzo drove in six runs on Apr. 7, but since then he's just 1-for-22 with the lone hit a single. On the plus side, he's drawn five walks in that span. There's absolutely no reason to worry about him right now.

Howard went 1-for-2 with his third home run of the season in Thursday's win over the Padres.

Now in his 13th season, the veteran is off to a concerning start. Over the past three seasons, April has typically been one of Howard's best months. There are many factors working against the 36-year-old, including his age and lack of talent around him. Howard has had a great career, but at this point there are plenty of better options at first base.

Howard went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk in Thursday's win over the Padres.

The home run was notable because it came off a lefty. Howard would not have been in the lineup if Darin Ruf (shoulder) had been available to start. Manager Pete Mackanin told Evan Webeck of MLB.com that Ruf will return to starting against lefties this weekend despite Howard's performance on Thursday.