MLB Player News

Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Rangers.

The slugging first baseman plated Tommy La Stella and Miguel Montero with a third-inning two-bagger, allowing the Cubs to overcome an early 1-0 deficit. The double, his sixth over the last four contests, extended Rizzo's hitting streak to 11 games. Rizzo's recent stretch of success at the plate has raised his average 18 points since July 2.

Votto went 4-for-5 with a double and a run Saturday against the Brewers.

Votto scored the only Reds' run in the ninth inning of a 9-1 loss. The double was only his third extra-base hit in 10 July games, and he's now slashing .261/.390/.452.

The Marlins are leaning toward sending Bour (ankle) out on a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

While Bour is eligible to return as soon as Monday, he's still dealing with some soreness in his ankle and thus remains limited in his baseball activity. He will ultimately need a few games in the minors to knock the rust off. It sounds like July 22 is the earliest possible date for Bour's return.

Bell was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

Bell has logged only four plate appearances for the Pirates on the year, and he'll now return to Triple-A, where he holds a .324 average with 53 RBI through 83 games. The move comes in response to Gerrit Cole returning from the DL on Saturday.

Colabello (suspension) is not likely to immediately return to the big league club once he's eligible to return on July 23, MLB.com reports.

Colabello received an 80-game suspension earlier this year for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He has options remaining on his contract and could be left in the minors at the end of his current rehab assignment if the club decides against adding him to the 25-man roster. "We're going to see how it all develops," manager John Gibbons said of Colabello, who is not eligible for postseason play this year because of his suspension. "I think they're just going to let him play down there and see [how it goes]."

Joseph is out of Saturday's lineup, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports.

He'll get a rest day after starting six of the last eight games and tallying 11 hits, including three home runs, over that stretch. Ryan Howard will get the nod Saturday and hit fifth against the Mets.

Cabrera went 3-for-5 with a run in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Phillies.

The veteran infielder now has four multi-hit efforts in nine July games and has already matched his home-run total for all of June. Cabrera is also just one RBI short of matching last month's figure in that category and has hit safely in four of his last five games.

Bell pinch-hit for the fourth consecutive game Friday, drawing a walk against Stephen Strasburg.

Bell has yet to play in the field, even though Friday's game presented a good opportunity for him to get his feet wet with the Bucs down by four runs in the eighth. The team will need to clear a roster spot for Saturday's starter Gerrit Cole. Bell will either be sent to Triple-A or Gregory Polanco (hamstring) will go on the DL.

Bell figures to potentially come off the bench as a pinch hitter Friday against the Nationals.

The team will likely decide his future Saturday, when it needs to clear a roster spot for the returning Gerrit Cole. Bell will stay on the roster if Gregory Polanco (hamstring) is placed on the disabled list, otherwise he'll head back to Triple-A.

Freeman had a mole removed from his back over the All-Star break that contained cancerous cells, but the doctors got it in time, and he hitting third in Friday's lineup, the Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien reports.

It sounds like Freeman dodged a legitimate scare over the break, and while he needed stitches after the procedure, it won't cost him any time. Freeman is on pace for a career high in home runs, as he had 16 in the first half, while his best mark is 23 in 2012 and 2013.