MLB Player News

The Mets like infielder Wilmer Flores' bat, but they are having a hard time trying to find a position for Flores to play, according to the New York Post. Flores has primarily played second base in 2013 for Triple-A Las Vegas, but one talent evaluator said Flores is having a rough transition.

Flores has committed nine errors in 242 chances at second base and has a .963 fielding percentage as a second baseman this season. He's batting .308 with a .500 slugging percentage, .847 OPS, four triples, eight home runs, 23 doubles and 56 RBI in 72 games.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard had one of his best games of the season Saturday against the Mets. He went 3 for 4 for his sixth multi-hit game in the last 10, and his hits were big ones.

Howard opened with a two-run single in the first and followed with solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, his first two-homer game of the season. Ryan drove in four runs and scored two in an 8-7 win.

Howard is hitting .358 with three home runs and 15 RBI in June, after batting .254 through the first two months of the season. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt now has 19 home runs on the season after going deep twice Friday against the Reds.

Goldschmidt took Johnny Cueto yard for a two-run shot in the fifth inning and added a solo blast in the sixth. Goldschmidt finished 3 for 5 overall with three RBI and two runs scored. He is batting .306.

The National League MVP candidate has gone deep four times in his last four games with six RBI.

Astros slugger Chris Carter went deep for the 15th time this season Friday in Chicago. Carter added a double.

He went 2 for 4 as the HR was a solo blast in the seventh inning off starter Matt Garza. He has 38 RBI.

Carter has gone 6 for 18 (.333) over his last five games with a homer and two RBI. He's also struck out eight times over that stretch.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto homered and doubled Friday in Arizona. Votto finished 3 for 4 on the night.

The slugger went deep for the 13th time this season in the seventh inning for a solo shot. He drove in two runs and has a .330 average.

Votto has recorded at least one hit in six straight games and is 12 for 25 (.480) over that span with two home runs and four RBI.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was taking grounders prior to Friday's game, another sign that he is making progress and could be back by the end of June.

"Asdrubal is doing terrific," Indians manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "He's going to do all baseball activities, and he's going to go with us to Baltimore. The anticipation is actually, when we get through that Baltimore series, he might be pretty darned close to being cleared to play."

Cabrera's first choice is not to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, in which case he could be back by the start of a series in Chicago June 28. However, Leyland told reporters that Cabrera is willing to go down to the minors if that is what the team wants.

"He's great about it," Francona said. "He said, 'I'll do whatever you want. I really don't want to do [a Minor League rehab assignment], but I'll do it if you want me to.' We'll kind of see where we're at and see what's in his best interest."

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera took grounders and hit Friday.

Cabrera has been out since June 3 with a strained quad. He's planning on traveling to Baltimore with the team, and could return following their series with the Orioles. Cabrera was hitting .254/.311/.434 prior to the injury.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana will DH Friday. 

Yan Gomes will take Santana's place at catcher. Santana will hit fourth against Twins' pitcher Samuel Deduno. He's hitting .281/.388/.489 in 231 at-bats.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto recorded his 35th RBI and finished 2 for 4 Thursday against the Pirates. Votto pushed his hitting streak to five games, batting .429 (9 for 21) with one double, one home run and two RBI.

Votto has two home runs and eight RBI in 19 June games.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (quad) is expected to take batting practice Friday for the first time since he landed on the disabled list June 4, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. 

Cabrera, out with a right quad strain, could be cleared to return to the roster for the Indians in around two weeks. He hit in the batting cages and ran in the outfield Monday.