MLB Player News

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores went 1 for 4 with a three-run home run in his team's 7-5 win over the Marlins Thursday.

"Tonight was a big step forward for him," Collins said of Flores after the game, per MLB.com. "It was huge for us, and also for Wilmer. There has been a lot written about how high expectations are for him offensively, and you have to live up to expectations. I think tonight might really jumpstart him."

Flores came up with two men on and his team down three runs in the fifth inning and was able to tie the game with his first home run of the season. He has hit .172/.250/.310 while collecting four runs. His three RBI Thursday were his first of the season.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg bumped struggling first baseman Ryan Howard down to seventh in the batting order for Thursday's contest against the Nationals. Howard batted cleanup in his first seven games with the Phillies before receiving the night off on Wednesday.

Howard mired in a 4-for-27 slump with three doubles, 10 strikeouts and no walks in seven games. It will be the first time he'll hit seventh in the order since April 21, 2006, per MLB.com.

"I talked to him this afternoon and just told him, 'Hey, it's creating a lineup, trying to win the baseball game,'" Sandberg said. "And so [I told him], 'In the meantime, just keep working.' Howie's doing everything that's asked on the defensive side of the ball, and the offensive side of the ball. If he could get hot, then I'd have some flexibility and choices in the lineup, so that would be the best scenario."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt wasted little time Wednesday getting Arizona on the scoreboard, as he connected for a two-run homer off Padres starting pitcher Brandon Morrow in the bottom of the first inning. 

"Just trying to put the ball in play," he said, per MLB.com. "I was able to get a ball kind of up and out, over, and get enough of it to get it out of there."

The home run marked the 500th hit of Goldschmidt's career. However, he wasn't in the mood to talk about the career milestone after the game since Arizona ended up taking a 3-2 loss.

"Honestly, no," he said when asked if the 500 hits meant anything to him. "I wouldn't have known unless you said something or somebody said something to me after the game. Just out there, we're trying to get wins, and we weren't able to do it tonight."

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run during Wednesday night's 3-2 loss to the Padres. 

Goldschmidt hit his homer in the first inning, which also scored Ender Inciarte. Goldschmidt went 2 of 4 in the game, also hitting a single. His other two at-bats ended in strikeouts. 

The home run was Goldschmidt's third of the season and he now has totaled nine RBI. 

He has a slash line of .344/.447/.656 through Arizona's first nine games of the season. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run home run during Wednesday night's 5-0 win over the Reds. 

Rizzo hit his homer in the first inning, scoring himself and Dexter Fowler. Rizzo finished the game 1 for 4. He now holds a slash line of .240/.429/.360. 

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg wants to see more production from first baseman Ryan Howard, reports Philly.com.

Howard, who is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game, is scuffling along with a .148 average in 27 at-bats so far this year. Sandberg said although Howard is getting closer to the plate in the batter's box, he needs to be more aggressive when he sees fastballs.

"The amount of fastballs that he's getting, for me he should look fastball and really disregard the breaking ball until he gets two strikes," Sandberg said.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg gave struggling first baseman Ryan Howard the night off Wednesday against the Mets, per MLB.com.

Howard went 0 for 3 on Tuesday, starting the season mired in a 4-for-27 slump. He has three doubles, 10 strikeouts and no walks in seven games. He also started the year on a 4-for-27 drought in 2013.

Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores is dealing with a sore hand, but will be able to play in Wednesday's game against the Phillies, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Flores was hit by a pitch in the second inning by David Buchanan, but was able to stay in the game Tuesday. He went 0 for 2 with a run scored and is hitting .160 this season.

Jose Abreu could soon be adding another weapon to his already impressive list on the baseball field. The White Sox slugger has opened himself up to the possibility of playing third base.

Abreu, who handled the shortstop position at times in Cuba, has rotated with newcomer Adam LaRoche between first base and designated hitter. But 20 interleague games on the schedule has Abreu seeking to play some third base in order to keep his bat in the lineup. He has been taking ground balls at the hot corner in practice to prepare himself.

"If something is decided for the team to win, I will [play third base]," Abreu told ESPN. "I will do it."

That attitude has White Sox manager Robin Ventura singing his praises.

"It's one of the mature parts about him: It's not about personal gain or fame or anything like that," Ventura said. "He just wants to be a good baseball player and help his team win."

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun remains sidelined for the Wednesday afternoon game at Texas with a calf injury. He had been listed as doubtful.

His absence comes as no surprise. Calhoun is not expected to return to action until Friday in Houston.