MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 in Tuesday's loss to St. Louis. Rizzo extended his hitting streak to six games and lifted his batting average to .333.

Rizzo scored twice and hit his fifth double of the season.  

The Phillies were shut out on three hits by Atlanta on Tuesday. Ryan Howard contributed one of the few bright spots on offense with a double, for the team's only extra base hit of the night. 

Howard went 1 for 4, lifting his average to .195. He recorded his fifth double of the year.  

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 3 for 4 with three runs scored in Tuesday's win over Philadelphia. 

Freeman put the Braves on top to stay with a two-run home run in the first, his fifth homer of the year. His two RBI gave him 14 this season. He imrpoved his average to .301. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu drove in a run in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Down a run, Abreu ripped a run-scoring single in the opening frame to tie the game. He reached base twice and finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. He is hitting .270 (24 for 89) with five doubles, one triple, five homers and 16 RBI in 23 games played.

If you figure Marlins first baseman Michael Morse is upset with Mike Redmond for playing Justin Bour ahead of him lately, figure again. He completely understands.

Morse, after all, is batting just .183 with two home runs and eight RBI in 23 games. He has fanned 28 times, including in three of four at-bats Sunday. So never mind the two-year, $16 million deal he signed in the offseason.

"I'm always just about winning and I'm happy for anybody that gets a chance to play - especially [Justin] Bour," Morse told the Miami Herald. "He's swinging the bat awesome. ... Even if I was in there (Tuesday) I'd probably run into the manager's office and tell them, 'Better play that guy.'"

Bour has seven hits in 12 at-bats and homered Monday.

After spending the last four games in the cleanup spot, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun will return to the leadoff position in Mike Scisoscia's lineup on Tuesday against the Mariners. Calhoun didn't exactly impress hitting fourth, as he went 4 for 17 with zero extra base hits in those five games.

Contrastly, Calhoun is batting .299 when hitting from the top of the order, and he will assume that spot on Tuesday. David Freese is batting cleanup on Tuesday.  

The Indians have slotted first baseman Carlos Santana at second in the batting order on Tuesday against the Royals, according to MLB.com.

It's the first time this season Santana has hit anywhere besides fourth in the lineup. In five games batting second, Santana is hitting .118 with three walks.

If the sight of Braves right-hander Shelby Miller on the mound doesn't snap Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard out of his 7-for-40 slump, perhaps nothing will.

Howard only has seven career at-bats against Miller, but he has certainly done plenty of damage. He has four hits, including three home runs and six RBI. He has also walked twice.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo slugged his fourth home run Monday night. No big deal there. He hit 32 last season.

But Rizzo also stole his seventh base in the loss to St. Louis. Big deal. That's a career-high and we're barely into May.

What is most intriguing is that Rizzo, who has never been considered a speed demon by any stretch, has all seven stolen bases in his last 15 games.

The Blue Jays have recalled utility man Chris Colabello and optioned infielder Jonathan Diaz to Triple-A Buffalo, th team announced Tuesday.

In addition, pitcher Jayson Aquino was designated for assignment. Colabello posted a .337 average with five home runs in 23 games in Triple-A this season. The 31-year-old hit .229 with six home runs in 2014 for the Twins. Diaz is 0 for 5 with one RBI this season.