MLB Player News

Through the Phillies' first seven games, veterans Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are a combined 6 for 43 with no home runs and four RBI.

"It sucks," Howard said of their coinciding slumps, per The Philadelphia Daily News. "Yeah, it sucks. Obviously, we want to get off to a better start. We're what, six or seven games in? It's definitely going to turn around. Nobody plans on trying to get off to a slow start.

"The only thing we can do is keep grinding and keep swinging, try to put together good at-bats. We've had opportunities, you just have to come through in other situations."

This is the worst start of Utley's career, while it is the second worst of Howard's. Utley is 2 for 22 with six strikeouts, two walks and no extra-base hits, while Howard is 4 for 24 with three doubles, eight strikeouts and no walks. In 2013, Howard began the season mired in a 4-for-27 slump.

"It's just a matter of time with Chase," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I have no worries there. He gets quality at-bats. And no worries there. Chase will be fine. We just need to create some opportunities with men on base for those guys in the middle of the lineup."

Astros first baseman Chris Carter is still trying to find his way at the plate to begin the season. Manager A.J. Hinch doesn't think it's a big enough issue to bring it up to him yet, reports the Houston Chronicle.

"I like that we've been able to keep our head above water a little bit without that kind of production," Hinch said. "To sort of hold serve – or whatever analogy I can use – is important for us to stay afloat while those guys are getting themselves on track."

Carter is just 1 for 19 to begin the season, but he thinks some of his outs could have gone either way.

"I hit some balls hard that were caught," Carter said. "It could go either way, so that's the difference of a few hits here and there."

Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has hit in four straight games and five of the first six games of the season. Despite hitting .320, Cabrera needs to cut down on his strikeouts. He's fanned seven times in 25 at bats so far this year. 

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun was held out of the starting lineup Monday against the Rangers for a second straight day due to a calf injury. Collin Cowgill received a second straight start in right field in Calhoun's absence.

Calhoun said he is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday, per The Orange County Register. He said he has been bothered by the calf injury for more than a week.

Calhoun is batting .200 (4 for 20) with one home run, two runs, two doubles, four RBI and five strikeouts in five games.

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.