MLB Player News

Though he was never a threat around the bases, Ryan Howard's lack of mobility since returning from a torn Achilles could force the Phillies to sacrifice his bat for speed late in games, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Howard is 18 months removed from surgery and has recently admitted to having good days and bad days with his leg.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel pinch-ran for the 33-year-old twice in the first 13 games. Last season, Manuel pinch-ran for Howard six times in 71 games as he regained strength in the repaired tendon. Manuel admits that replacing Howard's bat for speed late in games has been something that he has considered more often.

"It might be," Manuel said. "I hope I don't have to pinch-run for him much. I hope those situations don't come up much. Sometimes, when you're trying to win the game, the chances of scoring a guy become much better."

Howard is hitting .255 with a home run and five RBI in 51 at-bats. He has reached base in eight of the last 10 games played.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman took swings Tuesday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained right oblique.

The 23-year-old felt "fine" after the session, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Freeman, who was batting .412 with a home run and seven RBI before getting hurt, is eligible to return Monday at Colorado.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana is in the starting lineup Tuesday.

Santana has missed a little over a week after taking a ball off the wrist when he was behind the plate. Santana will assume the third spot in the batting order. 

Solving the Athletics' pitchers wasn't the only riddle facing Astros designated hitter Chris Carter Monday. Carter, back in Oakland for the first time since his trade to Houston prior to the season, had trouble locating the visitor's clubhouse after not maneuvering around that part of the stadium before.

"When I walked in I had no clue," he told MLB.com. "I never went past the weight room."

Carter, now the Astros' cleanup hitter, finished 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts -- his second straight hitless outing following a six-game hitting streak that included his first four homers of the season.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard had a strong series in Miami, but has admitted to having good days and bad days with his leg, according to Philly.com.

Howard is now 18 months removed from his surgery, and was never considered a threat on the bases. Howard said there will be days where his legs feel "heavier," but implied that's caused by the normal grind of the season. He was also able to score from second on a single by Michael Young.

Howard's repaired Achilles hasn't prevented him from playing this season, which is a positive. He was removed for a pinch runner Sunday, and that appears to be the only reason for concern going forward. 

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt came through big for his team in the late stages of Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers.

Goldschmidt slapped a walk-off single in the ninth inning to secure a 1-0 victory. He also singled in the fourth and finished 2 for 4 with an RBI.

"It would have been a strike but I was out front of it," Goldschmidt said. "It fooled me, so I was really lucky it found a hole. When I saw it, I thought it had a chance."

Goldschmidt is hitting .348/.426/.587 with two home runs and 10 RBI through 46 at-bats.

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.