MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo responded well to hitting No. 2 in the order for the first time in his career Wednesday, as he socked a pair of homers in an 11-6 loss to the Nationals. 

Rizzo opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning and then added a two-run shot in the fifth. He finished the game 3 for 4 with three RBI, two runs scored and a walk.

Rizzo is hitting just .232 on the season, but he topped the 20-homer plateau with his performance Wednesday. He ranks 10th in the National League in home runs now. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been moved to the second spot in the order Wednesday against the Nationals.

Rizzo has struggled as of late, but took early batting practice prior to Wednesday's game. He's hitting .228/.321/.422 in 465 at-bats. 

Indians catcher Carlos Santana hit a solo home run, walked twice and struck out twice Tuesday against the Angels. Santana has managed an RBI in three straight games and has three home runs in his last nine games.

Unfortunately, Santana is batting just .194 (13 for 67) in 18 August games, dropping his season average from .280 to .262. He has three doubles, three home runs and six RBI in August.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a grand slam Tuesday against the Reds.

Goldschmidt hit a J.J. Hoover fastball out to left in the eighth inning. It was Goldschmidt's 31st home run. Goldschmidt also walked, finishing the game 1 for 3. He scored one run and drove in four RBI, giving him 100 on the season.

Goldschmidt is hitting .297/.393/.552 in 462 at-bats. 

The Twins recalled outfielder Chris Colabello from Triple-A Rochester Tuesday, to take Joe Mauer's spot on the active roster after he was placed on the disabled list.

Colabello hit .221/.302/.372 in 29 games without the Twins before being demoted last week. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo failed to make much of an impact Tuesday night against the Nationals.

Rizzo, who missed Monday's game with an illness, finished 0 for 4 with a strikeout in a 4-2 defeat. He has only two hits over his last 28 at-bats. He is hitting .228 with 18 homers and 65 RBI in 465 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will begin doing baseball activities Thursday, according to the Philadephia Inquirer.

Howard has been out since early July following knee surgery. The club is unsure if he'll return this year. Howard is hitting .266/.319/.465 in 286 at-bats. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has returned to the club's starting lineup Tuesday against the Nationals.

Rizzo missed Monday's game with an illness, but was not expected to be out long. He's hitting .230/.323/.425 in 461 at-bats. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo wasn't in the starting lineup Monday against the Nationals due to an illness, according to the Chicago Tribune. Rizzo is mired in a 7-for-57 slump since hitting two home runs Aug. 1 against the Dodgers.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run and finished 2 for 7 with two runs during Saturday's game against the Nationals. It was Freeman's 15th home run and second in six games.

Freeman is batting .295 (18 for 61) with two doubles, two home runs, eight runs and 10 RBI in 15 August games.