MLB Player News

Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron belted his third home run Tuesday.

In the top of the eighth, Cron led off the inning against Tom Wilhelmsen. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Cron clubbed a 96 mph fastball out to left for the solo shot. He added a double earlier in the contest.

Cron finished 2 for 4, with two runs and two RBI.

Though he was hoping to serve just the minimum time on the DL, it appears unlikely that Joey Votto will be back in the Reds' lineup this Saturday when eligible.

"This particular injury doesn't have a due date on it," manager Bryan Price told MLB.com Tuesday. "Our target goal is to get him pain free and get his strength up to a level to expect his performance to be more like what we've seen in the past. I'm not sure we can get there all the way this year. But we want to get him to a place where he's confident he will not have regression."

Votto is making progress, but still had some pain as of Tuesday. Votto is not traveling with the team for its current two-city road trip, so it looks like he is likely out until the end of an upcoming series in Arizona. That series ends Sunday, one day after he is eligible to return. 

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg hinted Tuesday he could move to a Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf platoon at first base, per the Philadelphia Daily News. 

"If it works. If it produces, then it becomes a possibility going forward," Sandberg said.

The Indians announced Tuesday they placed catcher Carlos Santana on the 7-day disabled list due to a concussion. Santana was hurt after getting hit on the mask Sunday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard came up big at the plate, leading his team to a comfortable 9-0 victory over the Rockies.

Howard singled in a run in the fourth and took starter Jhoulys Chacin deep for a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He also added a two-run single in the seventh for his third hit of the day. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and five RBI. He is hitting .236 with eight homers and 30 RBI in 178 at-bats.

The Indians "aren't sure" whether catcher Carlos Santana is just ill or dealing with a concussion after getting hit on the mask Sunday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Santana didn't play Monday and will likely be put through concussion testing if the team feels that he could be facing that type of injury. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated Tuesday. Santana has hit just .159/.327/.301 with six home runs and 17 RBI in 176 at-bats.

Indians third baseman Carlos Santana was scratched from Monday's lineup against the White Sox due to an illness, reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu "felt great" after fielding 25 grounders, playing catch for 10 minutes and hitting 30 balls off a tee, reports MLB.com. Abreu (ankle) is eligible to come off the disabled list June 2.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, who has shed his walking boot, will do light work in the batting cage before Monday's game against the Indians, reports CSNChicago.com. Abreu is on the 15-day DL with an ankle injury and is prepping for a June 2 return.

He's hitting .260 with 15 homers and 42 RBI.

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has shed his walking boot and is "obviously making progress with his ankle injury," reports ESPN. The slugger is on track to return early next month.