MLB Player News

Joey Votto hit his first home run of the season for the Reds on Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Votto reached base four times, including three walks. Votto has walked in an absurd 34 percent of plate appearances, leading to an odd but productive .289/.542/.447 line. 

Votto added his first stolen base of the season in the second inning as well.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard pushed his hitting streak to five games during Philadelphia's 2-1 victory over Miami on Sunday. Howard went 3 for 4 and drilled a double for the third consecutive game (fourth total) to push his batting average to a season-high .277.

During his current hitting run, Howard has gone 9 for 20 with four doubles and a home run while raising his average more than 100 points from .148 to its current mark.

Carlos Santana is out of the lineup for the Indians' Sunday game against the White Sox, MLB.com reports.

Santana has been dealing with a hand injury and hasn't played with April 8. He is expected to be ready to play again for the Indians' next game Tuesday.

Astros outfielder Chris Carter stayed hot as he launched his fourth home run of the season during Saturday's contest against the Angels.

Carter took starter Garrett Richards deep for a two-run home run in the fourth inning. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 5-4 defeat.

Carter is hitting .461 (12 for 26) with eight runs scored, three home runs, seven RBI and has reached base safely in his last six games. He is hitting .289/.319/.600 though his first 11 games.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana changed his mind about playing Saturday against Chicago, MLB.com reports. Santana took himself out of the lineup.

The backstop participated in batting practice and felt it was too soon to return from his left thumb contusion. Santana is considered day-to-day.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana, who had been out since Monday after hurting his left thumb, was able to return to the starting lineup Saturday against Chicago, as expected. Santana will bat sixth. 

Santana will look to extend his three-game hitting streak. He's hit in six of his seven games this year for a .500 average with two homers, four doubles and five RBI. 

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts during Chicago's 4-3 win over San Francisco on Friday. It was the second game in a row Rizzo fanned three times -- and third occasion overall -- as his batting average dropped to .167 on the season.

He has now totaled more strikeouts (13) than hits and walks (10) over the first 10 games of the year.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana could return to game action by Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Santana suffered a left thumb bruise catching closer Chris Perez in Monday's game. He has yet to play since, but X-rays on the thumb were negative and if his return doesn't come Saturday, it should within the next few days.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana (wrist) was held out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, which was postponed by rain, but he's hoping to return for Cleveland's series opener against the White Sox on Friday, MLB.com reports. Santana has not played since Monday due to a sore wrist, but hit in the indoor batting cages Thursday.

"I asked him, 'If you had your choice, when would you play?' He said, 'Tomorrow,'" manager Terry Francona said. "I don't think that's going to happen, but I think that's really good news. That means he's not very far off and that the process is moving along quickly."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo had a mixed day at the plate in a loss to the Giants Thursday, hitting his third home run of the season in the third inning but striking out three times as he went 1-for-5.

The two-run homer gives Rizzo nine RBI to go with a .188/.297/.500 line in 37 plate appearances this year.