MLB Player News

Mets starting pitcher Jonathan Niese did what he had to do to pick up a win on Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Niese wasn't overly impressive, but he did limit Arizona to just three runs over 6 2/3 innings of work. He struck out three batters and allowed three walks in the process of picking up his fifth win of the year. Niese gave up a home run to MPV candidate Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning, but that was about as bad as it got for him.

Niese (5-8) has a 3.61 ERA in 104 2/3 innings this season.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs in Sunday's win over Cincinnati. 

Bour doubled twice, giving him nine on the year and three in the last two games.

Bour is 5 for 9 with five RBI in the last two games before the All Star Break. 

Jose Abreu isn't in the starting lineup for the White Sox for Sunday's game. The interleague game is in a NL park, so there is no DH for Abreu to play, and Adam LaRoche is starting at first base.

Manager Robin Ventura said that Abreu "needs a day," per the Sun Times due to hand and foot issues. 

The Rays placed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, the team announced on Sunday. 

Cabrera was forced to leave Saturday's game after injuring the hamstring while scoring a run. 

To replace Cabrera, the Rays recalled infielder Tim Beckham from Triple-A Durham. Beckham was hitting .297 in 10 games with the Bulls. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard blasted a solo home run on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to avoid the 8-5 loss to th Giants. Howard's home run, his 15th of the year, gave the Phillies a brief 4-1 lead in the sixth inning.

Howard has gone deep twice in his last four games.

It took Indians first baseman Carlos Santana a half-season to heat up, as it has in recent years, but he is finally showing signs of life.

Santana slammed a double and two-run homer Saturday against Oakland. The blast was his 10th of 2015.

He has four two-hit games in the last five, but the homer was his first since June 26. His .223 average is at its highest point in nearly a month.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour continued his hot hitting on Saturday, as he went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in the 14-3 rout of the Reds. 

Bour is batting .265 with three homers and 10 RBI in 10 games this month.

Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Saturday's game in the third inning after appearing to injure his hamstring. 

Cabrera doubled and scored in the bottom of the second, then was replaced at short when the Rays took the field. 

Astros first baseman Chris Carter isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's game, after starting 79 games there this season.

Jon Singleton replaces Carter at first for the fifth time this year, all in the last 10 games. 

Angels DH C.J. Cron hit two home runs in Friday's win over Seattle. 

Cron has hit in five straight games, going 12 for 21. He has three home runs and 11 RBI over the streak. 

Cron hit a solo shot and a two-run homer, giving him five for the year. It was his first multi-homer game since June 27 of last year.