MLB Player News

Singleton went 3-for-4 with two homers, five RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 11-3 win over the Angels.

The two blasts marked Singleton's first big-league home runs in more than eight years. The 31-year-old was called up Aug. 8 and was making his second consecutive start for the Astros in place of an injured Jose Abreu (back). Prior to a previous stint this year with the Brewers, Singleton hadn't played in the majors since October 2015. His return is a great story, but he'll likely have difficulty carving out a regular role over the final two months of the season.

Lowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants.

Lowe broke a scoreless deadlock with his sixth-inning blast off Ross Stripling. Lowe has gone just 6-for-26 (.231) over his last six games, but he's swatted two homers and four doubles with five RBI in that span. The first baseman is slashing .280/.373/.454 with 13 long balls, 63 RBI, 72 runs scored and 32 doubles through 115 contests as one of the steadiest hitters in the Rangers' strong lineup.

Cron went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Astros.

Cron's second-inning home run was his 12th of the year in 67 games, but his first since returning to the organization he made his major-league debut with in 2014. Cron has played in every game for the Angels since being traded from the Rockies on July 31. He holds a .222 batting average over 36 at-bats in 11 games since the trade.

France went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-2 win over the Orioles.

France has two homers, eight RBI and three doubles over his last 13 games, a span in which he's gone 16-for-45 (.356). The first baseman struggled for most of July, but he's getting back on track as the Mariners surge in pursuit of a wild-card spot. For the season, he's at a .256/.330/.384 slash line with nine homers, 46 RBI, 62 runs scored, one stolen base and 27 doubles through 112 games.

Rizzo (head) said Friday that he is aiming to ramp up his baseball activities within the next week, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Rizzo was placed on the injured list Aug. 3 due to post-concussion syndrome, stemming from a collision with Fernando Tatis back in late May. He has already played some catch and said he's been performing better in his concussion protocol tests. There's no exact timetable for Rizzo's return to the Yankees' active roster, but the veteran first baseman seems to be moving in an encouraging direction.

Abreu (back) remains out of the lineup Friday versus the Angels.

Abreu was held out of Thursday's series finale in Baltimore due to lower-back discomfort and needs at least one more day of rest and treatment. Astros manager Dusty Baker said an MRI showed nothing "too serious," per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Jon Singleton will start at first base Friday and Yainer Diaz will serve as the Astros' designated hitter.

Mountcastle went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Astros.

It was his second homer of the series against Houston, and Mountcastle is batting .463 (19-for-41) during his active 12-game hitting streak. That surge has lifted his slash line to .268/.312/.479 with 15 homers, 53 RBI, 49 runs scored and three stolen bases over 84 games this season. As long as he keeps raking, manager Brandon Hyde will continue to keep Mountcastle in a prominent place in the Orioles' order -- he's been hitting second versus southpaws and fifth against righties in August.

Raley is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

Harold Ramirez will take a turn in the DH role as Tampa Bay goes righty-heavy versus the Cardinals and left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Raley has been excellent overall this year, but he continues to sit against most southpaws.

Abreu is absent from the Astros' lineup Thursday in Baltimore because of lower-back discomfort, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

It's Abreu's second absence in the past five games due to the injury. He will be re-evaluated when the team returns home this weekend for a three-game series versus the Angels. Jon Singleton is handling first base for Houston on Thursday.

Abreu is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Baltimore, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Abreu just had an off day Saturday after not previously having one since June 23. The Astros will roll with Jon Singleton at first base Thursday versus the Orioles.