MLB Player News

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson indicated Monday that he hasn't been completely satisfied with the performance of shortstop Wilmer Flores over the first week of the season, The Star-Ledger reports.

"It hasn't been super," Alderson said about Flores' opening week. "He's made some good plays. He's made some mistakes. He hasn't hit yet, but that's true of about six or seven of our guys. Wilmer is one of those guys that doesn't let things bother him typically. As long as we don't get to the point where we allow that to affect him then I think he'll be fine."

Flores is just 3 for 19 with one double in six games, and he's already made three errors at the shortstop position in just one week of play. The infielder made four errors as a shortstop in 2014 across 443 1/3 innings.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts and six men left on base in Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Nationals.

"Howie's just looking for some consistency," manager Ryne Sandberg said after the game, per the Philadelphia Daily News. "He was a little bit behind the fastball off of Scherzer. He just didn't connect today, but he continues to work at things. One swing of the bat somewhere in there could have made a difference."

Howard drew a chorus of boos on his fourth strikeout and was removed from the game.

"All I can say is tough game," Howard said. "That's all I got today."

Howard is 3 for 20 with three doubles and seven strikeouts this season.

The White Sox have not ruled out the idea of slugger Jose Abreu playing third base, particulary in interleague games, per ESPN.com. 

Abreu, normally a first baseman or designated hitter, said he has experience playing third, and manager Robin Ventura said he could see Abreu playing there in an emergency situation or to keep both he and Adam LaRoche in the lineup at National League parks. 

"He actually looks good at third; he moves around very well and has done it," Ventura said. 

Abreu battled foot and ankle injury for most of last season, but said he is feeling much better this year and has been taking grounders at third during pregame warmups. 

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Calhoun went 2 for 4 with a double, a home run and three RBI Saturday. The Angels will use shortstop Erick Aybar as the leadoff man with Calhoun on the bench, and Collin Cowgill will play right field and bat seventh Sunday. The Angels are also starting Taylor Featherston over Johnny Giavotella at second base.

The Angels are favorites (-115) against the Royals Sunday.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Carter has had trouble getting things going in the first week of the season, and he's just 1 for 19 with one walk and eight strikeouts. The team will start Marwin Gonzalez at first base Sunday.

The Astros are road favorites (-120) against the Rangers Sunday.

Indians catcher Brett Hayes will join the major-league roster Tuesday to serve as the team's backup catcher while Yan Gomes recovers from a knee sprain, MLB.com reports.

Hayes hit just .135/.151/.212 in 52 at-bats with the Royals last season. First baseman Carlos Santana will be the team's emergency catcher Sunday if Roberto Perez can't go the full game.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun hit the second pitch of the game for a leadoff home run in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Kansas City. 

Calhoun went two for four, scoring twice and driving in three. In addition to his first homer, he hit his second double of the year. The performance lifted his average to .200 on the season. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 1 for 4 Saturday with a home run and three RBI in Arizona's 6-0 win over the Dodgers.

Goldschmidt snagged his first RBI in the third inning after a fielding error led to A.J. Pollock scoring. Then in the seventh, Goldschmidt ripped the first pitch he saw from Clayton Kershaw to deep left center for a home run, driving in Ender Inciarte.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1 for 4 at the plate with a solo home run in Atlanta's 5-3 win over the Mets Saturday.

Freeman, who also struck out once, took pitcher Dillon Gee to deep right field to lead off the second inning. It was Freeman's first of the year and 87th of his six-year career.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit home runs in his first two at bats in a 5-4 win over the Cardinals on Friday. Votto hit two-run shots in the first and third innings, giving him three home runs on the year, or half as many as he had all of last season. 

"The one was off a pretty good pitch," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said, per the Associated Press. "He just went out and drove it. We've seen him hit some pretty good pitches in the past, and he did today."

'He was terrific,'' manager Bryan Price said. ''He's doing a lot of things really well. It's nice to have him back with his athleticism.''

Votto had his tenth career multi-homer game and first since May 13, 2012. 

Votto was two for three with a walk. He has eight RBI on the year and is hitting .412.