MLB Player News

Colabello is back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

Justin Smoak took Colabello's spot at first base Wednesday against with Michael Pineda on the hill for the Yankees, but Colebello will draw back in for Thursday's series finale. Colabello does appear to be on the on the wrong end of a first base platoon with Smoak and Edwin Encarnacion, however, so Thursday's start could be his only one for a few days.

Freeman is getting the day off Thursday against the Nationals.

He will make way for Kelly Johnson to get the start at first base and hit cleanup, presumably against Stephen Strasburg, although he is a little under the weather and has not yet been confirmed as the Nationals' starter. Look for Freeman to be back in the lineup Friday in Miami.

Carter is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

Carter has an extra-base hit in three straight games, and tallied six extra-base hits over his last six contests, but manager Craig Counsell decided it was time for Carter's first day off of the season. Regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy will get the start at first base Thursday in Carter's place.

Calhoun went 3-for-5 with two RBI and scored a run in Wednesday's win against the Athletics. He's now got a hit in eight of the team's nine games this season, including seven in a row.

The 28-year-old outfielder is now slashing .387/.441/.452 through the team's first nine games of the season. After hitting a career-high 26 homers a year ago, Calhoun has yet to smack one out in 2016. He's obviously seeing the ball very well in the early going, so it's only a matter of time before he goes yard.

Colabello is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees.

With the right-handed Michael Pineda on the mound, Justin Smoak will get the nod at first base over Colabello. Colabello is just 1-for-15 this season after hitting .321 last year and could find at-bats hard to come by if he continues to struggle.

Cron is back in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the A's, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

After getting the day off Tuesday, Cron will draw back into the fifth spot in the order Wednesday against Oakland left-hander Eric Surkamp. Cron has slumped to start the season, going 1-for-23 through his last six games. He'll take over at first base Wednesday while Albert Pujols will serve as the Angels' DH against Surkamp.

Freeman is 1-for-20 since hitting a home run in the first inning on Opening Day.

The good news is the Braves first baseman is still finding a way on base, as he has seven walks through the first seven games. Freeman also has a favorable matchup Wednesday against Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg. He is 12-for-31 (.387) with three homers in his career against the right-hander.

Flores is in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.

Flores will make his second start of the season Wednesday, and he will get the nod at first base for the first time in the big leagues, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. Flores will hit fifth against Marlins starter Adam Conley.

Goldschmidt went 1-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBI Tuesday at the Dodgers.

Goldschmidt's third bomb of the year broke an eighth inning tie before he grounded out in the ninth to give the Diamondbacks an insurance run. He now has homered in back-to-back games, and he also has five extra-base hits in eight games this season.

Cron is out of Tuesday's lineup against the A's, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Cron is in a major slump to start the year (2-for-26), so Ji-Man Choi will get the start at DH with Albert Pujols getting a second straight start at first base Tuesday.