MLB Player News

Phillies veteran first baseman Ryan Howard is expected to resume hitting and fielding ground balls this weekend, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Howard has been sidelined since Sept. 14 with a knee injury. He is making an attempt to return, but the Phillies won't push him with nothing to play for this season. Darin Ruf will continue to see playing time at first for as long as Howard remains sidelined.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman didn't start Wednesday against the Mets due to a wrist injury, but hit a pinch-hit two-run double, then remained in the game and hit the game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning.

Seems like that wrist's feeling just fine. The Braves have a day off Thursday, and Freeman's expected to be in the lineup for the start of a three-game series in Miami on Friday.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is out of the lineup Wednesday with a sore wrist, but is available off the bench, Kevin McAlpin of 680 The Fan reports. 

While Freeman did miss more than a month earlier this season with a wrist injury, it doesn't sound like the Braves are especially concerned with this setback, as manager Fredi Gonzalez said he expects Freeman to return for Friday's series opener in Miami. Nick Swisher will man first base and bat third in Freeman's absence.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Mets. 

Just seems to be a night-off for Freeman, who's batting .250/.409/.353 with one home run and nine RBI in the month of September.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 4 with his 30th home run of the season Tuesday in a win over the Dodgers.

Goldschmidt tops the 30 home run mark for the second time in his career. While his .286/.409/.488 line in the second half represents a swoon only compared to his first half dominance, it's worth remembering that he only played 109 games due to injury last year, so fatigue may be a factor as he closes out the season.

With six more runs scored, Goldschmidt can join Jose Bautista (and eventually Bryce Harper) as the only hitters this year with more than 30 home runs, 100 runs, RBI, and walks.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) is unlikely to return this season, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reports. 

Howard has been out since Sept. 14 after he was struck by a line drive while playing in the field. He eventually had to go to the emergency room to get his knee drained, but was optimistic he could return to the lineup sometime the following week.

That optimism has clearly faded as Howard has still not taken batting practice since the injury, prompting Lawrence to believe Howard's season is likely over.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) will be reevaluated Tuesday, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. 

The Phillies have a day off Monday. If Howard does not begin taking batting practice this week, the Phillies could decide to shut him down for the rest of the season. He has been sidelined since last Monday after taking a ball off his knee while playing in the field.

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees.

Flores continues to share starts with Ruben Tejada at shortstop, and it's Tejada's turn to start again Sunday. Tejada will lead off for the Mets in place of Flores.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was 1 for 3 with a go-ahead two-RBI double in the eighth inning in a 2-1 victory over the Phillies on Saturday. He also drew a walk.

Freeman appears to slowly but surely be gaining some momentum at the plate as the season winds down. He has reached base safely in nine of the last 10 contests and now has four multi-hit outings in September. When hasn't been getting on with base hits, Freeman has been busy drawing walks, with the 26-year-old first baseman now the recipient of 15 free passes during the month. Freeman's OBP, slugging, and OPS numbers are also all up from an anemic August in which he only mustered a .231 average.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (knee) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Braves, Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The team suggested Friday that Howard would likely only see action as a pinch-hitter over the weekend, but that didn't materialize in Friday's game. Howard will now be out of the lineup for a fourth straight game, as Darin Ruf picks up another start at first base.