MLB Player News

The Mets gave several regulars a rest on Saturday. 

Right fielder Curtis Granderson, catcher Kevin Plawecki and shortstop Wilmer Flores are all out of the starting lineup. 

John Mayberry makes his third start of the year in right, batting leadoff. Ruben Tejada makes his fourth start at short, batting seventh. Luke Recker will catch and bat eighth. 

Despite Albert Pujols' return to the lineup on Saturday, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun remains in the cleanup spot, indicating this could be a permanent move, reports the Orange County Register.

Calhoun had been batting leadoff this season but shifted to fourth when Pujols sat Thursday and Friday to rest his hamstring.

"When we get things rolling with a lineup going one to nine and the bottom of the order getting on base like they did last year, Kole is a great fit as a leadoff hitter," Scioscia said. "But if you want to talk specifically about the lineup today, you want to try to get Kole hitting, taking advantage of whatever Mike or Albert can set up for him."

First baseman Albert Pujols (hamstring) will return to the Angels' lineup Saturday in San Fransico after missing two games with a hamstring issue.

Pujols exited Wednesday's game with the injury and sat out Thursday's and Friday's contest.

The move will shift center fielder Mike Trout back to the second spot in the lineup while Kole Calhoun stays in the cleanup role.

During Pujols' two-game absence, second baseman Johnny Giavotella moved from ninth to leadoff but will bat seventh on Saturday for the first time this season.

Making the adjustment this season as the team's full-time first baseman, the Astros' Chris Carter credits first base coach Rich Dauer and bench coach Trey Hillman with assisting him in the transition, per the Houston Chronicle.

“Richie and Trey have been there helping me out since spring training putting the reps in and being at first base every day and working with me,” Carter said. “Their dedication and being out there working with me every day has helped.”

Carter has started 19 of the Astros' 23 games at first base this season while only starting 14 times at first in 2014.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters he's preaching patience with shortstop Wilmer Flores. Alderson said Flores has "plenty of room" despite his errors, per the Wall Street Journal.

"This is not a hope and a prayer," Alderson said.

Flores committed his sixth error of the season Thursday night against Washington, and it proved to be costly. He botched a double-play ground ball in the fourth inning, which led to a three-run inning for Washington in an 8-2 victory over New York.

Flores remained in the lineup and will bat sixth Friday night against Max Scherzer. He is 0 for 5 in his career against Scherzer. In 21 games, Flores is hitting .254 (18 for 71) with two doubles, three homers and eight RBI.

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores committed his sixth error of the season Thursday against the Nationals, and Thursday's mistake was very costly. Flores bungled a likely double-play grounder in the fourth innning, which led to a three-run inning for Washington on its way to an 8-2 win.

Mets manager Terry Collins said the error “changed the tide, no question about it," per The Wall Street Journal. However, the Mets skipper continues to preach patience with Flores.

“When we decided he was going to be the shortstop, we realized there might be a couple rough spots,” Collins said. “I think you have to be a little patient and continue to tell Wilmer, ‘Listen, you’ve just got to slow down, relax and make the plays.'"

The Mets announced after Thursday's game they are promoting infield prospect Dilson Herrera from Triple-A Las Vegas. However, Herrera is expected to play at second base, with Daniel Murphy moving to third base in David Wright's absence. For now, Flores' job is safe, despite his defensive woes.

“Sometimes things don’t go your way,” Flores said. “Nobody wants to make an error. I just got to shake it off.”

Reds slugger Joey Votto is back in the lineup Thursday in Atlanta after getting a night off. He is batting third and playing first base.

The hope is that the one-game absence will get Votto back on track. He had been one of the hottest hitters in baseball before a 2-for-20 slide that dropped his batting average from .386 to .312.

He is, however, having a renaissance year in regard to power. He has seven home runs in 77 at-bats after nailing just six in 220 at-bats in 2014.

With Albert Pujols sidelined Thursday, the Angels moved Kole Calhoun to the cleanup spot, according to MLB.com. Mike Trout was moved from second to third, while Erick Aybar was inserted to the leadoff spot, with Johnny Giavotella moving from ninth to second.

Calhoun, who was the team's leadoff hitter 17 of the first 21 games, is hitting .406 (13 for 32) with six runs scored, two homers, five RBI four walks and six strikeouts over his last his last eight games, raising his batting average from .222 to .309 over that span.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is back in the cleanup spot for the first time since April 18, per Philadelphia Daily News. Howard was removed from the No. 4 spot after the first eight games of the season in favor of Jeff Francoeur.

Francoeur has been held without a hit over his last 13 at-bats, with his batting average dipping from .227 to .180 over the past four games. He will bat fifth on Thursday against the Cardinals. Howard is hitting .222 (4 for 18) with three homers and six RBI over his last five games.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has been on a tear offensively since suffering a 1-for-18 slump from April 21-25. He has produced multiple hits in four straight games since Sunday, including a four-hit outing Tuesday against the Nationals.

Freeman is batting .588 (10 for 17) in his last four games, raising his season average from .219 to .296. He has one RBI, four doubles and five runs in that span.

"I don't think everybody is ever worried about Freddie Freeman," third baseman Chris Johnson said, per MLB.com.