MLB Player News

Calhoun returned to the lineup Friday, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in a loss to the Twins.

Calhoun returned from what appeared to be a four-game mental break after getting off to a rough start this year (.172/.197/.213). The veteran outfielder's sudden decline is due in large part to his impatient approach at the plate (0.12 BB/K). The only saving grace -- for his batting average at least -- is that his .225 BABIP is unusually unlucky. Whether or not we see Calhoun's name on the lineup card Saturday will go a long way in telling whether this was truly a scheduled break, or if the longtime starter has lost out on his starting job to Chris Young.

Mountcastle (hand) was activated from the disabled list at Double-A Bowie and went 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI Thursday against Hartford.

He suffered a broken hand midway through spring training, and this was his first game back. Mountcastle isn't a great defender anywhere on the diamond (he played third base in this one), but he has the potential to hit for average and for power, which would allow his bat to profile at third base or in left field. He is on pace to reach the majors in early 2019.

Cron went 2-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Braves on Wednesday.

Cron continues to serve as one of the Rays' steadiest sources of offense, as factoring in Wednesday's production, he's now reached base safely in 15 straight games. The 28-year-old has compiled 12 extra-base hits (five doubles, seven home runs) overall, and his current .201 ISO represents a career high.

Gurriel went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's win over the Athletics.

Gurriel was also caught stealing in this one in what was his first attempt of the season. After a slow start in April, the 33-year-old is now riding an 11 game hitting streak -- with extra-base hits in five of those -- and has upped his slash line to .284/.324/.411.

Calhoun is out of the lineup for the fourth straight game Wednesday in Colorado.

Calhoun sat against a righty for the first time this season Sunday and did so again Tuesday. Wednesday's benching is an expected one, as he's sat against nearly every lefty so far this year. Still, it's the third straight start for Jabari Blash, and Calhoun is hitting just .165/.193/.209 on the season, so it's possible a changing of the guard is taking place. The Angels currently project to face righties in their next several games, so it should become more clear within a few days whether this switch is a permanent one.

Mountcastle (hand) is set to join Double-A Bowie on Thursday or Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

Mountcastle has missed the entire season with a hairline fracture in his right hand but is nearly ready to return. He had a .222/.239/.366 line in 39 games for Bowie last season and will need to conquer that level before earning a promotion to Triple-A.

Calhoun is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.

Calhoun is struggling mightily this season, hitting just .167/.195/.211 with a 28 percent strikeout rate through 29 games, so he'll stick on the bench for a third straight game -- two of which have come against right-handed starters. The Angels may simply be allowing the outfielder to clear his head, so it's too early to say he's lost out on a full-time role, but he'll need to turn things around quickly if he wants to keep Jabari Blash or Chris Young from eating into his playing time. Blash is starting in right field and hitting seventh in his stead Tuesday.

Guerrero went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and five RBI for Double-A New Hampshire in its 10-2 win over Portland on Monday.

Hours after showcasing his light-tower power while hitting an opposite-field home run off a tee in a segment for MLB Network, Guerrero kept slugging for the Double-A club, connecting on his fourth and fifth long balls of the season. It was the second multi-homer game of Guerrero's professional career, while the five RBI boosted his season total to an Eastern League-leading 35. Also pacing the circuit with a .398 average, Guerrero seems to have little left to prove in the minors, but service-time considerations could nonetheless delay the 19-year-old's promotion until the second half of the season, or even the 2019 campaign if the Blue Jays are well removed from playoff contention in the last couple months of the summer.

Olson went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and one RBI Sunday in the 2-1 win over the Orioles.

Olson came through with a RBI double in the fourth inning to put the Athletics up 2-1. He's slashing .256/.346/.410 with four home runs and 14 RBI through 34 games this season. Olson is supplying decent power at the plate, but he'll look to cut down on the strikeouts moving forward (42 in 117 at-bats).

Calhoun is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

It wasn't a surprise that the lefty-hitting Calhoun sat out Saturday with a southpaw (Marco Gonzales) starting for Seattle, but the outfielder's absence Sunday versus a right-hander (Felix Hernandez) is more significant. While it's too early to declare that Calhoun has lost out on a full-time gig in right field, he certainly has less job security than he did to begin the season after slashing .167/.195/.211 while striking out in 28 percent of his 118 plate appearances to date. Jabari Blash or Chris Young could eat into Calhoun's playing time if either catches fire at the plate.