MLB Player News

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has been on a tear recently, registering three home runs in his last five games, but according to MLB.com, he's not taking his streak as a sign of anything other than the natural ebb and flow of the game. 

Howard is hitting .235 (4-for-17) with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, three strikeouts and a 1.080 OPS in his last five games, numbers much better than the ones he posted at the start of the season. 

"That's baseball," Howard said. "You just continue to go out there and swing. I feel like I've been swinging it well. The results may not necessarily show, but it's all about how you are feeling with the swings. Eventually, they will drop."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in his team's 5-4 win over the Braves Sunday.

Howard wiped out a 2-0 first-inning deficit with his three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and though the Phillies lost the lead in the third inning, they were able to pull out a victory to take two game out of three against the Braves. Howard has hit just .193/.246/.404 but has three home runs and nine RBI in 57 at-bats.

The Angels flip-flopped positions for two regulars on Sunday. Albert Pujols, who has started at first base in 17 of the team's 18 games, will play designated hitter. 

C.J. Cron, who has 13 starts at DH, will play first base. 

The Angels are -144 favorites at home against Texas. 

Braves right fielder Nick Markakis is leading off and shortstop Andrelton Simmons is batting second for the second straight game Sunday.

Both players saw their first appearances in those respective positions in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Phillies and will reprise their roles Sunday. In addition, lefty Kelly Johnson is batting cleanup for the first time this season, with first baseman Freddie Freeman slotting in third for the second straight day (and the third time this season).

The Braves are underdogs (+100) against the Phillies Sunday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday in Philadelphia's 5-2 win over the Braves.

Howard did his damage in the fourth inning when he ripped an 0-1 pitch from Shelby Miller over the center field wall, scoring Jeff Francoeur, his second of the season. Howard is now hitting .189 with six RBI in 53 at-bats this season.

When the season began, Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron couldn't buy a hit. Not he's pretty much hitting every other game. When he starts hitting every day, he'll truly be hot.

For now, he's lukewarm. But he did peak with a 3-for-4 performance Friday night against Texas. Cron doubled, singled twice and scored in the fourth to raise his average over .200 for the first time.

He has hit safely in just five of his last eight games, but managed multiple hits in three of them and has three doubles during that stretch.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana drove in two runs in Friday's win over Detroit. Santana went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. He scored three times and increased his average to .222 with 10 RBI. 

Astros DH Evan Gattis is not listed in the team's starting lineup for Saturday's game at Oakland. After 11 straight starts at DH, Gattis heads to the bench, replaced at DH by first baseman Chris Carter. 

Marwin Gonzalez gets his third start of the year at first base, batting eighth in the lineup. 

The Astros are +105 money line underdogs at Oakland. 

Marlins first baseman Mike Morse is out of the starting lineup on Saturday, for the first time this season. Morse had gotten the call at first base in all 17 games this year. 

Justin Bour, just called up from Triple-A on Friday, gets the start at first base, batting fifth. 

The Marlins are +140 money line underdogs at home against Washington. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu gave the front office and coaching staff a scare Friday when he did a body slam into the infield dirt following a rundown in the third inning. Abreu laid motionless for a few moments after tripping over Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar at second base.

“When he ran down, I think he landed on the foot of the base on his ribs,” manager Robin Ventura said, per ESPN. “It kind of knocked the wind out him, and it was cold. At first I thought it was his wrist or something like that. I think there were a lot of things going on at the same time.”

Ventura added he had "a heart attack" when he saw his star first baseman lying on the ground.

“I'm just glad he's fine. Once he got over that, you could tell he was fine," Ventura said.

Abreu, who stayed in the game, went 2 for 4 before the game was suspended after eight innings due to inclement weather. It is expected to resume Saturday afternoon.

The 2014 AL Rookie of the Year is batting .317 with five home runs and 13 RBI.