MLB Player News

White Sox designated hitter Jose Abreu went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles in the 2-0 win over the Blue Jays on Thursday. With the two-hit effort, Abreu now owns an 11-game hitting streak.

During the streak, Abreu is batting .326 with a pair of home runs and five RBI. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has been benched often lately against left-handers. He was not about to start against Dodgers super southpaw Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday night.

Howard is indeed out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last 11 games. He has just nine hits in 64 at-bats against lefties this season.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) could be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list as soon as the first day after the All-Star break, assistant general manager John Coppolella told reporters Wednesday. 

However, if Freeman isn't ready when the second half starts July 17, he is expected back before the end of July, according to Coppolella.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu went 1 for 4 in Tuesday's loss to Toronto. 

The single extended Abreu's hitting streak to nine consecutive games. 

Abreu is hitting just .297 over the streak.  

Reds first baseman Joey Votto was on his game Tuesday against the Nationals. The former MVP went 3 for 5 with a double, a homer and three RBI in the 5-0 win. Votto hit an RBI-double in the first inning to give the Reds and early 1-0 lead.

Then, with his team up 2-0 in the third, Votto smoked a solo home run to right field off Max Scherzer. It was Votto's 15th home run of the season, and his first since June 13.

Votto has been struggling at the plate recently, as the three-hit effort on Tuesday gives him a .211 average over his last 10 ballgames. Tuesday's homer was his first extra-base hit in his last 19 games.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was held out of Tuesday's lineup at the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Howard was replaced at first by Darin Ruf, who will bat fourth. Over his last 15 games, Howard is hitting .143 with one home run and eight RBI.

The Phillies are the underdogs (-300) at Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo homered during a 7-4 win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. He connected for a two-run homer off Randy Choate in the eighth inning -- his 16th home run this season.

Rizzo went 2 for 3 with two runs, two walks and one strikeout. He ended his home run drought at 13 games.

He entered play Tuesday mired in a 4-for-32 slump in his previous nine games.

Any kind of hits have been hard to come by for Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard lately, but he certainly came up with a big one - at least at the time - Monday night against the host Dodgers.

Howard smashed a three-run homer to right-center in the third inning to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead. He also fanned twice in the game.

That it was his lone hit is no surprise. Howard is batting .100 (3-for-30) over his last 10 games as his average has plunged to .218.

Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello smacked his eighth home run of season during Monday's 4-2 loss to the White Sox.

Colabello hit the solo shot off Chris Sale in the third inning. The home run was his only hit in three at-bats.

Prior to Monday's loss Colabello was hitting .333 with three home runs and 10 RBI in his last 17 games.

The National League All Star reserves and pitchers were announced on Monday evening, and there was no room for the reigning National League MVP.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was not selected for the All Star team, although he's one of five candidates to take the final spot on the roster in the Final Vote. 

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant made the team as an injury replacement for the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. Bryant is one of two rookies on the team, along with Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. 

The Pirates sent two starting pitchers to the All Star team for the first time since 1960. MLB wins leader Gerrit Cole and fellow Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett will both be making their first appearance. 

National League reserves are:

Catchers: Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers; Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First basemen: Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers; Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second basemen: DJ LeMahieu, Rockies; Joe Panik, Giants
Third basemen: Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Joc Pederson, Dodgers; A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks; Justin Upton, Padres

National League pitchers are:

Madison Bumgarner, Giants; A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Aroldis Chapman, Reds; RHP: Gerrit Cole, Pirates; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Zack Greinke, Dodgers; Mark Melancon, Pirates; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers; Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

The five candidates for the Final Vote are:

Johnny Cueto, Reds; Jeurys Familia, Mets; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies