MLB Player News

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 3 at the plate in Arizona's 4-3 win over the Cubs on Sunday.

Goldschmidt did his damage in the third inning when he blasted a two-run shot off of Jason Hammel to deep center field, his 12th of the season.

"I've never seen a guy, basically it's just the flick of his wrist to hit it that far," D-backs manager Chip Hale said to MLB.com. "He's got such good mechanics with his hands to stay through the ball. When he gets on a run, yes, it's enjoyable to watch. We have to have guys behind him hit because what's gonna happen is he's not gonna get a whole lot of pitches to hit."

Goldschmidt continues to tear up pitching early in the season and is now hitting .333 with 38 RBI in 156 at-bats. 

White Sox designated hitter Jose Abreu went 1 for 4 at the plate in Chicago's 8-1 win over the Twins on Sunday.

Abreu did his damage in the fourth inning when he belted a solo home run off of Kyle Gibson, his seventh of the season. Abreu is now hitting .288 with 23 RBI in 156 at-bats this year.

Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Sunday's game in the eighth inning after suffering a mild groin sprain, per the Tampa Bay Times.

First baseman James Loney suffered a sprained finger but was able to complete the game. 

"Just a little sore," Loney said. "We'll see."

Cabrera went 1 for 3 in the game and committed his second error of the season. Loney went 2 for 4 and stole his first base of the year. 

"I feel a little sore, but it's more tightness," Cabrera said. "I think I'll be all right in a couple days."

Blue Jays DH Jose Bautista received a cortisone shot in his shoulder, per Toronto's 590 AM. Bautista is out of the lineup Sunday and will likely miss Monday as well. 

Edwin Encarnacion moves to DH from first base to replace Bautista, with Justin Smoak getting the start at first. 

Munenori Kawasaki also gets his second start of the year second base, replacing Steve Tolleson. 

Danny Valencia also gets a rest. Chris Colabello moves over from right field to left to replace him. Ezequiel Carrera replaces Colabello in right. 

White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia will return to the lineup on Sunday. 

Garcia is batting fifth in the order and returns after two games with a sore knee. 

The White Sox also flipped positions of Jose Abreu and Adam LaRoche for the game. Abreu will play DH for the sixth time this year, while LaRoche plays first for the seventh time.

Marlins first baseman Justin Bour gets his fourth straight start at first base on Sunday. He'll bat fifth in the lineup. 

The Marlins also gave catcher J.T. Realmuto a rest. Replacing him in the lineup behind the plate is Jhonatan Solano, who gets his fifth start of the year. He'll bat eighth.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley are out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game. 

Both starters were rested against a left-handed pitcher. Howard is replaced in the lineup by Darin Ruf, who gets his seventh start at the position. He'll bat third. 

Utley is replaced by Cesar Hernandez, who starts at second for the first time in 15 games. He'll bat sixth. 

Carlos Ruiz also gets Sunday off. Replacing him at catcher is Cameron Rupp, who gets his 14th start of the year. He'll bat eighth.

The Diamondbacks have been speed demons so far this season. Arizona entered Saturday's game tied for second in the National League with 40 stolen bases, led by A.J. Pollock with 10 and Paul Goldschmidt with eight.

"What we've really tried to do the whole year is if there's an opportunity there, be aggressive with it," Goldschmidt said to MLB.com. "It's just another way we can get a guy into scoring position and make it a little bit easier on offense to score."

Pollock is tied for fourth in the NL with his stolen bases and 12 different players have recorded at least one stolen base.

"If it is a good spot and it's a good opportunity to take one, we'll try to take it," Pollock said. "We've got a pretty dynamic team and overall our team speed is pretty good. You've got a couple guys that kind of fly under the radar with speed and they can sneak one here and there."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was the hero in Saturday night's come-from-behind win over the Diamondbacks. Rizzo went 2 for 5 and tied a career-high with six RBI. 

In the fifth inning, Rizzo cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead. Then, with the game tied at six in the top of the ninth, Rizzo hit a three-run home run to put the Cubs up 9-6, which would be the final score.

The homer was Rizzo's ninth of the season and the six RBI give him 29 on the year. 

Blue Jays right fielder Chris Colabello went 1 for 3 at the plate in Toronto's 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Saturday. Colabello did his damage in the fourth inning when he belted a James Paxton pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run, his third of the season.

Colabello, who is now hitting .379 with 10 RBI on the year, has hit safely in four consecutive games.