MLB Player News

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.

Colabello is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.

Justin Smoak will draw the start against Rick Porcello, sending Colabello to the bench against a right-hander for the second time in three days. Colabello hit .321 in 333 at-bats last year, but he's off to a miserable start this season with one hit and six strikeouts in 19 at-bats.

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.

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.