MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman snapped a 10-game homerless streak Saturday, in an 11-5 win over the Diamondbacks. 

Freeman opened the game with a two-run home run and reached base three times, despite the home run being his lone hit in three at-bats. He finished 1 for 3 with two walks, three runs scored and two RBI.

Freeman has just three home runs in the month of June, and eight overall in 259 at-bats. He is hitting .305 with an .839 OPS and 50 RBI on the season.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was out of the starting lineup Friday against the Dodgers, and he is not expected to return until at least Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Howard is 0 for 14 over his last three games since returning from a knee issue, and the team is trying to give him a mental break with the days off. He will still take part in fielding drills and batting practice on his off days.

Howard is batting .268 with a .789 OPS for the season, though those numbers have risen to .298 and .922 respectively in the month of June. 

Indians catcher Carlos Santana is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the White Sox. 

Yan Gomes will play catcher and Nick Swisher will be the DH. Santana has started five of the last six games and probably wouldn't have been able to play both games of the doubleheader.

Santana is hitting .269/.380/.462 in 253 at-bats. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 5 with his seventh stolen base in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Nationals.

It was Goldschmidt's first steal since a two-steal game June 2. He is hitting .312/.386/.568 with 19 home runs and 67 RBI in 292 at-bats.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo doubled for a third straight game and added two RBI Wednesday against the Brewers. Rizzo has hit safely in six of his last seven games, batting .417 (10 for 24) with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBI.

Rizzo is turning the corner offensively after opening June mired in a 8-for-51 slump (.157) in his first 15 games.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana got some rest Wednesday as he was not in the starting lineup against the Orioles in Baltimore, MLB.com reports. Santana is dealing with a sore right knee, according to manager Terry Francona. 

That said, Francona insisted that Santana was sitting due to Cleveland playing four games this weekend against the White Sox, and not due to the injury. 

Santana, batting .273 on the year with 10 homers and 32 RBI, has gone just 3 for 21 (.143) over his last six games. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (quadriceps) was activated off the 15-day disabled list and returned to the starting lineup Wednesday against the Orioles, manager Terry Francona confirmed during an interview with MLB Network Radio.

Cabrera played in his first game Wednesday since June 3 against the Yankees.

"Asdrubal Cabrera is in the lineup tonight," Francona said. "I can't believe how fast he came back from this injury."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard reached base once Tuesday against the Padres, in his return from a brief absence due to knee soreness.

Howard was hitless in four at-bats, but walked once in the game. He scored a run, in a 6-2 win.

Howard is hitting .278 on the season with an .832 OPS. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Padres, after sitting out the previous game with soreness in his left knee. Howard is battering fourth and player first base, as usual.

Howard has been dealing with soreness in the knee for much of the season, and may require days off moving forward to manage it. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (quadriceps) said he feels 100 percent and hopes to be activated off the disabled list for either Wednesday's or Thursday's game against the Orioles, according to MLB.com. Cabrera last appeared in a game June 3.