MLB Player News

Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders and utility man Danny Valencia are out of the starting lineup again Wednesday against the Yankees, the team announced. 

Saunders has missed the last two games for Toronto after having his knee drained on Monday. Chris Colabello will draw his second start in right. Valencia will miss his second straight game with an ankle sprain.

Struggling first baseman Michael Morse was held out of the Marlins lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday. Morse hasn't recorded a hit since April 28, and will receive his fourth day off in the last five games.

Justin Bour, who has seven hits in 14 at-bats since being recalled on April 25, was the starting first baseman for the third straight day for manager Mike Redmond.

The Mets are committed to Wilmer Flores at shortstop, despite his seven errors in 27 games, and manager Terry Collins recently told him so, reports the New York Post.

“I told him today, ‘Fresh start, Day 1. Let’s get after it, and be the player we know you can be,'" Collins said.

Flores performed like that player Tuesday night, lashing a key double off the wall in left field as part of the Mets’ three-run fourth inning that led to a 3-2 victory over the Orioles at Citi Field.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 in Tuesday's loss to St. Louis. Rizzo extended his hitting streak to six games and lifted his batting average to .333.

Rizzo scored twice and hit his fifth double of the season.  

The Phillies were shut out on three hits by Atlanta on Tuesday. Ryan Howard contributed one of the few bright spots on offense with a double, for the team's only extra base hit of the night. 

Howard went 1 for 4, lifting his average to .195. He recorded his fifth double of the year.  

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman went 3 for 4 with three runs scored in Tuesday's win over Philadelphia. 

Freeman put the Braves on top to stay with a two-run home run in the first, his fifth homer of the year. His two RBI gave him 14 this season. He imrpoved his average to .301. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu drove in a run in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Down a run, Abreu ripped a run-scoring single in the opening frame to tie the game. He reached base twice and finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. He is hitting .270 (24 for 89) with five doubles, one triple, five homers and 16 RBI in 23 games played.

If you figure Marlins first baseman Michael Morse is upset with Mike Redmond for playing Justin Bour ahead of him lately, figure again. He completely understands.

Morse, after all, is batting just .183 with two home runs and eight RBI in 23 games. He has fanned 28 times, including in three of four at-bats Sunday. So never mind the two-year, $16 million deal he signed in the offseason.

"I'm always just about winning and I'm happy for anybody that gets a chance to play - especially [Justin] Bour," Morse told the Miami Herald. "He's swinging the bat awesome. ... Even if I was in there (Tuesday) I'd probably run into the manager's office and tell them, 'Better play that guy.'"

Bour has seven hits in 12 at-bats and homered Monday.

After spending the last four games in the cleanup spot, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun will return to the leadoff position in Mike Scisoscia's lineup on Tuesday against the Mariners. Calhoun didn't exactly impress hitting fourth, as he went 4 for 17 with zero extra base hits in those five games.

Contrastly, Calhoun is batting .299 when hitting from the top of the order, and he will assume that spot on Tuesday. David Freese is batting cleanup on Tuesday.  

The Indians have slotted first baseman Carlos Santana at second in the batting order on Tuesday against the Royals, according to MLB.com.

It's the first time this season Santana has hit anywhere besides fourth in the lineup. In five games batting second, Santana is hitting .118 with three walks.