MLB Player News

Mets infielder Wilmer Flores has been sent back to Triple-A Saturday.

Flores was called up April 2, and only spent a few days in the majors. He'll likely be up again at the first sign of injury. The team activated Jonathon Niese from the disabled list, which is likely why Flores was demoted. 

Angels left-handed batters Kole Calhoun and Raul Ibanez are set to sit Saturday against Astros southpaw Dallas Keuchel.

Collin Cowgill will replace Calhoun in the leadoff spot.

Angels outfield and leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun did not join the party in an offensive onslaught against Houston on Friday night until the seventh inning. But when he did, he did it in style. He slugged a two-run homer to give his team an 11-1 lead.

The blast ended a personal slump, but his 1-for-6 performance against the Astros maintained his batting average of .167.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has been hot to start the season, as he hit safely for the sixth straight game to open the season Thursday against the Giants.

Goldschmidt hit his first home run of the season Thursday, as he went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two driven in. His two-run homer gave the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead in the first inning, but they would go on to lose, 5-3.

Goldschmidt is hitting .423 through six games, and has extended his hitting streak to 25 games dating back to last season. 

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu gave a glimpse of what he is capable of Thursday, as he drove in four runs in a game the White Sox would go on to lose, 10-9.

Abreu went 2 for 4 with two extra-base hits, an RBI double in the fifth inning following by a three-run triple in the sixth. He scored once and had two of the team's three hits with runners in scoring position in the loss.

Abreu has yet to homer in three games, but three of his five hits are for extra bases so far. He is hitting .417 with just one strikeout in his first 12 major-league at-bats. 

Twins first baseman Chris Colabello put together another strong performance on Thursday, driving six runs in a 10-9 win over the White Sox in Chicago.

Colabello, who batted cleanup, lined a bases-clearing double in the third inning and cranked two-run double in the fifth inning. He also scored a run on a ground out in the seventh inning. He finished 2 for 5 with six RBI. He has five hits over his first 10 at-bats, three of them have been doubles.

Shifts in the Twins lineup have placed first baseman Chris Colabello in the cleanup spot Thursday against White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana.

The new lineup that elevated Joe Mauer to the second spot and Josh Willingham third allowed Colabello to bat fourth. Colabello, who has played only against southpaws, is off to a strong start in 2014 with three hits in five at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the season Wednesday.

After striking out against Robbie Ross in the first, Howard was able to take a slider out to center field in the top of the third. Howard struggled in the game otherwise, striking out and lining into a double-play in his final at-bat. Still, it was encouraging to see Howard take a left-hander deep.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hit his first home run of the season in the 12th inning Wednesday to break a 2-2 tie in his team's 16-inning loss to the Pirates.

Rizzo was 0 for 6 in his first two games heading into the 12th inning but came through with a clutch home run in the pressure situation. Unfortunately, the Pirates were able to tie things up in the bottom of the 12th before going on to win in the 16th inning. Rizzo, who finished the game 1 for 5, is looking to improve upon last season's .233/.323/.419 line.

The Mets made a few roster moves Wednesday. They recalled infielder Wilmer Flores and pitcher Kyle Farnsworth from Triple-A Las Vegas, while taking pitcher Ryan Reid off the 40-man roster.