MLB Player News

The Angels flip-flopped positions for two regulars on Sunday. Albert Pujols, who has started at first base in 17 of the team's 18 games, will play designated hitter. 

C.J. Cron, who has 13 starts at DH, will play first base. 

The Angels are -144 favorites at home against Texas. 

Braves right fielder Nick Markakis is leading off and shortstop Andrelton Simmons is batting second for the second straight game Sunday.

Both players saw their first appearances in those respective positions in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Phillies and will reprise their roles Sunday. In addition, lefty Kelly Johnson is batting cleanup for the first time this season, with first baseman Freddie Freeman slotting in third for the second straight day (and the third time this season).

The Braves are underdogs (+100) against the Phillies Sunday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday in Philadelphia's 5-2 win over the Braves.

Howard did his damage in the fourth inning when he ripped an 0-1 pitch from Shelby Miller over the center field wall, scoring Jeff Francoeur, his second of the season. Howard is now hitting .189 with six RBI in 53 at-bats this season.

When the season began, Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron couldn't buy a hit. Not he's pretty much hitting every other game. When he starts hitting every day, he'll truly be hot.

For now, he's lukewarm. But he did peak with a 3-for-4 performance Friday night against Texas. Cron doubled, singled twice and scored in the fourth to raise his average over .200 for the first time.

He has hit safely in just five of his last eight games, but managed multiple hits in three of them and has three doubles during that stretch.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana drove in two runs in Friday's win over Detroit. Santana went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. He scored three times and increased his average to .222 with 10 RBI. 

Astros DH Evan Gattis is not listed in the team's starting lineup for Saturday's game at Oakland. After 11 straight starts at DH, Gattis heads to the bench, replaced at DH by first baseman Chris Carter. 

Marwin Gonzalez gets his third start of the year at first base, batting eighth in the lineup. 

The Astros are +105 money line underdogs at Oakland. 

Marlins first baseman Mike Morse is out of the starting lineup on Saturday, for the first time this season. Morse had gotten the call at first base in all 17 games this year. 

Justin Bour, just called up from Triple-A on Friday, gets the start at first base, batting fifth. 

The Marlins are +140 money line underdogs at home against Washington. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu gave the front office and coaching staff a scare Friday when he did a body slam into the infield dirt following a rundown in the third inning. Abreu laid motionless for a few moments after tripping over Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar at second base.

“When he ran down, I think he landed on the foot of the base on his ribs,” manager Robin Ventura said, per ESPN. “It kind of knocked the wind out him, and it was cold. At first I thought it was his wrist or something like that. I think there were a lot of things going on at the same time.”

Ventura added he had "a heart attack" when he saw his star first baseman lying on the ground.

“I'm just glad he's fine. Once he got over that, you could tell he was fine," Ventura said.

Abreu, who stayed in the game, went 2 for 4 before the game was suspended after eight innings due to inclement weather. It is expected to resume Saturday afternoon.

The 2014 AL Rookie of the Year is batting .317 with five home runs and 13 RBI.

With the Angels facing Texas lefthander Wandy Rodriguez on Friday, left fielder Matt Joyce is out of the starting lineup. 

Joyce has faced southpaws in just three of his 52 plate appearances this season. Collin Cowgill gets the start in left, batting seventh in the lineup. C.J. Cron is the DH, batting sixth. 

The Angels are -180 money line favorites against visiting Texas. 

With Christian Yelich on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury, the Marlins could turn to Ichiro Suzuki to fill that void in left field, MLB.com reports.

Suzuki has made seven starts this season for Miami, five of which have come at right field. He is hitting .257 (9 for 35) with a triple and an RBI in 16 appearances.

Although the Marlins don't have a true backup outfielder on the roster, third baseman Martin Prado has some experience as a corner outfielder. Donovan Solano has also seen some playing time at left field back in 2012.