MLB Player News

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. 

After having the previous two games off, Angels slugger C.J. Cron was back in the lineup on Monday against the Mariners. He went 0 for 3 in the 3-2 loss as the team's first baseman. Cron, who broke out in 2014 with 11 home runs, has left the yard just once this season. 

Cron's struggles, which includes an underwhelming .229 batting average, has caused him to lose playing time. He has appeared in just 19 of the team's 26 games thus far, and with several other DH options at manager Mike Scioscia's disposal, Cron could be in danger of seeing even less time if he doesn't improve at the plate.

The Blue Jays will promote first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello prior to Tuesday's game against the Yankees, according to Sportsnet.ca. 

The 31-year-old Colabello was International League Player of the Month in April. He is batting .337 with three doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI in 23 games for Triple-A Buffalo.

Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was dropped from third in the batting order to seventh Monday, and he responded by going 2 for 4 with one run in his team's 5-1 win over the Red Sox.

"We just decided kind of where he’s at, let’s drop him down, try to get him going, relax him a little bit," manager Kevin Cash said, per the Tampa Tribune. "There is some pressure there hitting in the three-spot. We’re all confident Cabby is going to help us out a lot this year. We just need to buy a little time with it now."

Cabrera was hitless in his previous 14 at-bats heading into Monday's game. He's hit .206/.260/.278 with eight RBI in 97 at-bats.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour went 1 for 3 at the plate in Miami's 6-4 loss to the Nationals on Monday. Bour did his damage in the seventh inning when he ripped a Jordan Zimmermann pitch over the left field wall for a solo shot, his first of the season.

Bour is now hitting .583 on the year in 12 at-bats.

Marlins first baseman Michael Morse is out of the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals, with Justin Bour drawing the start, according to the Miami Herald.

Morse will get his second day off in the last three after struggling at the plate early on in the year. Morse is hitting just .193 with two home runs and eight RBI in 88 at-bats. Bour is 6 for 9 with a double so far this season.

The Marlins are currently the underdogs (+170) against Washington Monday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was held out of Monday's lineup at Atlanta, reports The News Journal.

Howard is coming off a two hit, two RBI game in Sunday's win over the Marlins. The Phillies are facing left-handed pitcher Alex Wood in Monday's game. Howard is 0 for 4 in his career against Wood. Darin Ruf will start and bat fourth in place of Howard.

The Phillies are the underdogs (+150) at Atlanta on Monday.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana enjoyed a productive day at the plate during Sunday's victory over the Blue Jays. Santana, who has played every inning of every game for the Tribe in 2015, reached base in all five plate appearances Sunday. He went 2 for 2 with and RBI, a run scored and three walks. 

Santana is hitting .265 (9 for 34) with five RBI over his last 10 games. He's also drawn 14 walks with just three strikeouts over that strech. He currently leads the American League with 22 base-on-balls.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 2 for 4 at the plate in Philadelphia's 6-2 win over the Marlins on Sunday. Howard cracked his first triple of the season in the sixth inning when he took a Jarred Cosart pitch to deep center field, driving in Darin Ruf.

Howard credits his recent success at the plate to hitting coach Steve Harrison, according to Philly.com.

"It was a tough series. I had problems kind of getting my rhythm, getting comfortable in the box. It's a strange game, man. It's like one minute it's there, one minute it's not. But that third [at-bat], I found something."

Howard had three triples in the last two years coming into the contest and boosted his average to .193 on 83 at-bats.

"Those were good swings, real good swings," Sandberg said. "He took his aggression out on the baseball."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning during Sunday afternoon's 5-3 loss to the Brewers. 

This was Rizzo's first triple of the season. A year ago, Rizzo only recorded one triple for the entire year. 

Rizzo's triple to center field came on a first pitch from Jimmy Nelson and scored Dexter Fowler. Rizzo finished the game 1 for 4, which included striking out once. He now as a slash line of .321/.471/.513.