MLB Player News

Need a sleeper for the second half? Matt Adams, Martin Prado, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and C.J. Cron are some of my favorites.

Check out my latest column to find out why.

Reds manager Bryan Price believes first baseman Joey Votto's timetable will come down to weeks, not months, MLB.com reports Saturday.

"It's so far out, and when I say 'far out,' it's more weeks; I'm not talking about months and months and months," Price said. "But with both Brandon [Phillips] and Joey, we're talking more about weeks than days. So I think it would be reckless of me to suggest there's a due date on when either one of them would be back."

Astros designated hitter Chris Carter has found his swing in recent games, as he put together his second multi-homer game in three days Friday against the Red Sox.

Carter went deep twice in an 8-3 loss to the Red Sox, clubbing a pair of solo home runs. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two driven in along with one strikeout in the loss.

Carter has a seven-game hitting streak active, and has clubbed six home runs in that span. He now has 19 on the season, ranking eighth in the American League, while hitting .203/.280/.470 in 266 at-bats. 

Astros designated hitter Chris Carter hit two home runs Friday against the Red Sox.

Carter's first blast came in the sixth inning. He worked a six-pitch at-bat from John Lackey, homering on a 92 mph fastball. In his next at-bat Carter managed another solo shot, this time off reliever Craig Breslow. Carter finished 2 for 4, with two runs scored and two RBI. 

Indians catcher Carlos Santana had just one hit Thursday, but he made it count in a 9-3 win over the Yankees.

Santana went 1 for 5 with a two-run home run in the win, while striking out twice. It was his second home run of the month of July and 14th of the season.

Santana is hitting .208/.349/.391 in 81 games. 

Indians infielder Asdrubal Cabrera put together his first multi-RBI in weeks Thursday, in a 9-3 win over the Yankees.

Cabrera reached base three times, and none of those times was more important than when he drove in three runs with a seventh-inning triple to tied the game. He finished the game 2 for 4 with one run scored and a walk in addition to his three RBI.

Cabrera had just one RBI in the first eight games of the month of July, and now has 37 RBI in 86 games overall. He is hitting .251/.312/.398 in 339 at-bats.  

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun reached base four times Thursday against the Rangers.

Calhoun was an extra base machine early, clubbing a triple and a double in his first two at-bats. He singled his third time up, leaving him a home run shy of the cycle. He did collect another hit, but it was a single. Calhoun finished 4 for 5, with four runs scored and one RBI. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard belted his 15th home run Thursday against the Brewers.

Howard waited until the ninth inning to unleash his power. With one man on, Howard belted an 88 mph fastball out to center for the two-run shot. Howard previously clubbed a double earlier in the game. He finished 2 for 5, with two runs scored and three RBI. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo won Major League Baseball's final vote, earning a spot on the 2014 All-Star team.

Rizzo was more than a deserving candidate for the spot. He's hitting .280/.387/.512 over 328 at-bats. Rizzo's 20 home runs trails only Giancarlo Stanton in the National League. He's been one of the few offensive bright spots for the Cubs this season. Rizzo will be a reserve to open the game.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu moved back into a tie for first in the home run race Wednesday, as he clubbed his 28th homer of the season in a 5-4 loss to the Red Sox.

Abreu opened the game with a solo shot in the first inning, and ended up finishing the game 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run. It was his third home run in the last nine games, and gave him 28 for the season, to go with 70 RBI.

Abreu is hitting .284/.333/.627 in 306 at-bats through the first 78 games of his rookie season.