MLB Player News

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has been ruled out for the All-Star game, ESPN reports. Freeman jammed his thumb in Saturday's game. The injury will keep him out of Sunday's game as well, but Freeman is expected to return to the club shortly following the All-Star break.

Braves outfielder Freddie Freeman is unavailable Sunday with a thumb injury, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Freeman has the thumb in a soft splint. The winner of the National League's final vote is now questionable for Tuesday's All-Star game, so there's a good chance he returns for the Braves shortly after the All-Star break.

Astros outfielder Chris Carter missed a second straight game Sunday to finish the first half of the season in Tampa Bay. That said, Carter insists he's fine, the Houston Chronicle reports. 

Carter had been dealing with a bruised right hand, but he says that isn't keeping him from the lineup. His .229 batting average may be the reason he's not playing much these days. Carter has gone 6 for 25 (.240) in July with 12 strikeouts in nine games and seven starts. 

Freddie Freeman knocked in four of the Braves' six runs in the club's victory Thursday over Cincinnati.

Freeman finished 3 for 4 with two singles and a double to go with the four RBI. Freeman has now reached base in 16 consecutive games and is hitting .328/.453/.557 with nine extra-base hits and 13 walks over that span. Freeman is hitting .313/.392/.477 on the season.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo had a big impact Thursday against the Cardinals, as he drove in each of the team's runs in a 3-0 win.

Rizzo did all of his damage in the first three innings, as he drove in one run with an RBI double in the first inning, then brought two more around with a single in the third. He finished the game 2 for 3 with the three RBI, while walking once.

Rizzo is hitting just .189 in the month of July, though he does have six RBI in his last five games. 

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was named to the National League All-Star roster Thursday, as he won the Final Vote for the last spot on the team.

Freeman beat out Yasiel Puig, Hunter Pence, Ian Desmond and Adrian Gonzalez for the roster spot. He is hitting .307 with an .858 OPS in 300 at-bats. He received 19.7 million votes. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera hit his seventh home run Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Cabrera took an R.A. Dickey knuckleball out for a solo shot. Cabrera finished 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI. He's hitting .251.

Starting for the first time in four games Wednesday due to a hand injury, Astros outfielder Chris Carter went 1 for 3 with two walks and his 18th home run of the season in a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.

Carter also struck out twice to raise his strikeout total to 122, the highest mark in the majors. He owns a .229/.327/.472 line in 284 at-bats.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is expected to be back this season after undergoing surgery Wednesday for a debridement of his left medial meniscus. According to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Howard's knee was in better shape than expected, which could change the team's outlook.

"After [Phillies physician Michael] Ciccotti went in there and went in with the scope, it was a little better picture than we thought," Amaro said. "I think the player is feeling better about it, we're feeling better about it. As news goes, this is as good as we can get."

The Phillies have yet to decide whether they will be sellers at the trade deadline, and the fact that Howard could return earlier than initially expected might change their plans. His official timeline is six to eight weeks.

"There's a reasonable chance we'll have him back at some point. We still have a lot of question marks about where we're going to go in the next couple of weeks," Amaro said. "Right now, the team is making decisions a little harder on me, which is fine and which is good. I'd rather be in this situation than thinking about 2014 right now."

Howard was hitting .266 with a .784 OPS prior to his injury. 

Astros left fielder Chris Carter is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. Carter pinch-hit in the last two games after missing a game with a minor hand injury.

Batting fourth Wednesday, Carter has hit .228/.323/.463 with 17 home runs, 46 RBI and a league-high 120 strikeouts in 281 at-bats.