MLB Player News

The Mets have placed infield prospect Wilmer Flores on the seven-day minor-league disabled list with an ankle injury, ESPN New York reports. Flores, 21, has hit .321/.357/.528 with 12 home runs and 75 RBI in 371 at-bats with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (thumb) was cleared by a team doctor to take dry swings and hit off a tee Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If he responds well, then he could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday's second-half opener against the White Sox.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was the fifth-highest scoring Fantasy batter in the first half (standard Head-to-Head formats). If he wants to stay among the top 5 scorers by season end, then he needs to improve on his career second-half numbers.

I figured I'm not going to win any popularity contests by bringing this up, but it can't be overlooked that Goldschmidt's numbers in his young MLB career have been much better in the first half than second half. 

• First-half slash line (168 games): .308/.555/.939
• Second-half slash line (119 games): .263/.447/.792

Now, it has to be mentioned Goldschmidt made his MLB debut in the second half of 2011. While he hit just .250 in 48 games, he had a pretty decent slugging percentage (.474). Goldschmidt came back in 2012 to hit .271 in the second half, but he hit just eight home runs and slugged .431 in 71 games.

Listen, I'm not telling anyone to give up on Goldschmidt. That's not the intended message. I'm just pointing to the fact Goldschmidt has had a tendency to fade in the second half, which is a trend worth keeping tabs on in 2013.

It's not like Fantasy owners needed more incentive to start Indians catcher Carlos Santana considering he's a top-5 Fantasy catcher (standard formats). But if he produces numbers like he has in the second half the last two seasons, then Santana could threaten to finish the season as the highest-scoring Fantasy catcher.

Santana hit .249 in 71 second-half games in 2011, but he slugged .498. He had two triples, 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 38 RBI and 43 runs.

Santana had similar numbers in the second half last season, but his average rose to .281 in 74 games. He slugged .498 again, while producing two triples, 13 home runs, 14 doubles, 46 RBI and 41 runs.

Fantasy owners vying for a championship would surely like to see those numbers from Santana again down the stretch in 2013.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who withdrew from the All-Star Game because of a left thumb injury, said he feels better Tuesday, according to MLB.com. He said he's able to bend his thumb with little problem.

Freeman is aiming to be ready to play Friday against the White Sox.

Here's proper Chris Colabello context: a 12-team AL-only Roto league where the top bats available on the wire are George Kottaras, Jose Molina and Alberto Gonzalez. While he isn't even officially on the team, speculation is that Colabello will be called up Thursday, after participating in the Triple-A All-Star game. 

Colabello managed just two hits over 16 at-bats with the Twins earlier this season, but he's been destroying everything in his path in Triple-A -- hitting .354 with 24 home runs, 24 doubles, and a 1.084 OPS in 85 games. He can play first base, right field (currently looking like Clete Thomas/Ryan Doumit), or DH. There are plenty of at-bats for the taking here, and if Colabello can get hot, in a Shane Spencer-type way, he could stick with the team for the rest of the season, becoming a nice source of power and average. 

It's deep AL-only territory, but it's a smart risk to take, based on the staying power and impact potential Colabello offers. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is hoping to be ready by Friday, according to MLB.com.

Freeman appeared at the All-Star Game press conference with a brace on his injured thumb, but said he feels better. He will not participate in the festivities during the break, but hopes he can be back for the Braves' first game. Freeman is hitting .308/.386/.468 in 312 at-bats. 

Indians infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, who got the start at designated hitter Sunday, was 3 for 5 with two RBI in a 6-4 win over the Royals. He doubled to score Lonnie Chisenhall and Drew Stubbs in the sixth inning to give the Indians the lead for good. 

Cabrera, who also scored a run, is batting .255 with seven homers and 34 RBI over 271 at-bats. 

Indians catcher Carlos Santana reached base four times Sunday during a 6-4 win over the Royals. Santana went 3 for 3 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to five games. 

Santana's double to right field in the third inning drove in Michael Brantley. He's batting .275. 

He's gone 8 for 16 during his streak with two doubles, a triple and three RBI. He has 11 homers and 43 RBI. 

Astros manager Bo Porter said Chris Carter missed Sunday's game against Tampa Bay due to a sore ankle injured Friday, MLB.com reports. 

"He kind of tweaked his ankle a little bit [on Friday night] rounding third base," Porter said. "Yesterday he got treatment and today, with the All-Star break coming up and us having a few more days, it just made sense to let him rest and come back on Friday."

Carter is batting .229 on the year and has gone 6 for 25 (.240) in July with 12 strikeouts in nine games and seven starts.