MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went two for two in a 5-1 loss to the Rockies on Friday. 

Rizzo scored the only run of the game for Chicago. He was also hit by a pitch twice. 

Angels outfielder Matt Joyce was given the night off against Kansas City left-hander Jason Vargas. It's the second time this season he's been given a game off against a southpaw. Joyce has just one hit in his first eight at-bats this season.

"He's going to do it [hit against lefties]," hitting coach Baylor said of Joyce, per the Orange County Register. "He's going to be an important factor for us, no doubt. He's got too good of a swing."

Collin Cowgill took his spot in left field and is batting eighth. Meanwhile, David Freese will bat in the cleanup spot, with C.J. Cron fifth.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was left out of the starting lineup Friday against the Nationals for the first time in four games this season. Darin Ruf drew the start at first base with left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the hill.

Howard, who is batting .083 (1 for 12) through three games, is a career .224 hitter against lefties. 

Ruf, who made a third straight start Friday (started in left field previous two days), has no hits in seven at-bats this season.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch chose to roll with Jonathan Villar at third base and Robbie Grossman in left field Friday night against left-hander Derek Holland and the Rangers, per MLB.com. Luis Valbuena and Colby Rasmus received a day off against the southpaw.

Hinch also flip-flopped struggling DH Evan Gattis and Chris Carter in the batting order. Gattis has started his stint with the Astros 0 for 11 with eighth strikeouts. He will hit fifth, while Carter will move to the cleanup spot.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the starting lineup and is batting third, behind Jason Kipnis and ahead of Carlos Santana on Friday against the Tigers, according to the Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Brantley was sidelined the previous two games with lower back stiffness. He has been held without a hit in four at-bats this season.

Manager Terry Francona told reporters he may sprinkle in some off days for Brantley in the near future after the outfielder acknowledged he's still experiencing some lower back discomfort, per MLB.com.

"We'll keep an eye on him," Francona said. "If he needs a day off or something, we can certainly do that. But we don't ever want to turn something that could be a day or two into two weeks. But it's nice having him in the lineup, that's for sure."

Late in spring training, it was reported the Phillies were willing to pay $50 million of the $60 million remaining on first baseman Ryan Howard's contract in order to trade him.

However, two rival general managers told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman that they hadn't heard the Phillies were willing to pay that much of Howard's contract. One general manager said it was his belief the Phillies were only willing to pay $35 million to move Howard.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo heads into Friday's game against the Rockies having reached base safely in his last 16 games dating back to last season, which is the longest active streak in the majors, per the Chicago Tribune.

Rizzo has yet to record a hit in four at-bats this season, but he has a walk in each of his first two games. He also has one run, one hit by pitch and two strikeouts.

Astros slugger Chris Carter started all three games in the season-opening series against the Indians. Unfortunately, Carter didn't have a whole lot of luck offensively.

Carter, who hit 37 home runs in 2014, was hitless in 11 at-bats against the Indians. He struck out four times, including three strikeouts Thursday. 

Slow starts are nothing new for Carter, who has a career .181 average during the first month of the baseball season. In 2014, he hit .153 with three home runs, six doubles, eight RBI and 37 strikeouts in 26 games in April.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 1 for 4 with his first home run of the season in his team's 3-2 win over the Giants Thursday.

Votto came up with a man on base in the bottom of the sixth and his team down two runs, and his homer was able to tie the game. After the teams traded zeroes over the next few innings, the Reds were able to earn a win on a walkoff fielding error. Votto is 5 for 14 with one home run and four RBI after three games.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana connected for his first home run Wednesday against the Astros. While hitting a home run isn't big news for Santana, who has 99 career home runs, hitting one Wednesday was significant because it was his birthday.

"This is not new for me," Santana said, per MLB.com. "Every year I try to get a home run for my birthday."

Santana has a knack for stepping up offensively on his birthday. Dating back to 2009 when he was with Double-A Akron, Santana has hit .444 (12 for 27) with six home runs and 14 RBI on his birthday, per MLB.com. 

"This is a special day for me," Santana said.