MLB Player News

Calhoun is not in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox.

Calhoun has collected just three hits over the last eight games and struck out 13 times in 30 at-bats over that span, so he'll head to the bench to clear his head Wednesday. Cameron Maybin will slide over to right field for the game, allowing Ben Revere to start in left field.

Carter went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Royals.

It's just his second homer of the season and first since April 22. The outburst snapped a 2-for-20 skid by Carter, who so far hasn't done much to take advantage of the playing time afforded him by Greg Bird's lingering ankle issue. With Bird's recovery timetable still unclear, Carter should continue seeing the bulk of the action at first base, but if he doesn't pick up the pace soon Matt Holliday, who's played four games at first this year, could begin to push Carter back to the bench.

Cron started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double in Monday's win over the White Sox.

The slugging first baseman was expected to land on the short side of a platoon at first base upon his return from the disabled list, but an injury to Yunel Escobar has opened up regular playing time for the 27-year-old. Cron hasn't done much in his limited playing time this season (.224/.274/.269), but with 32 combined home runs over the past two seasons, he is worth adding in deep leagues for power while he is seeing regular at-bats.

Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.

Bradley Zimmer's contract was purchased from Triple-A in a corresponding move, so Diaz's run as a fill-in outfield option has come to an end for now. His approach is excellent, but the natural third baseman has nowhere to play in the big leagues, so he will head back to Triple-A to wait for another opportunity.

Gurriel went 2-for-4 with a sixth-inning grand slam in Houston's 7-2 win over Miami on Monday.

Gurriel won't generate home runs like a prototypical first baseman; he averaged 16.6 homers in 15 seasons in Cuba. His swing is tailored more to gap power, but he'll run into about a dozen or so during a season. Monday's bomb was his third of the season and sixth in 70 games since coming to the States.

Calhoun went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Monday's 5-3 win over the White Sox.

It was a much-needed long ball for Calhoun, who came into the game with just two hits in his previous six contests. It was his fifth home run of the season, but he's still slashing just .226/.298/.355. That said, with Yunel Escobar (hamstring) on the disabled list, Calhoun could flourish in the leadoff spot hitting ahead of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.

Abreu went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Angels.

The long ball was his sixth of the year and first since May 6, but he's also swatted four of his six homers this month. After getting out to a cold start, Abreu is up to a .263/.333/.466 line with 19 RBI in 147 plate appearances. He should easily eclipse the 20-homer mark again if he stays healthy.

Nash (suspension) is back in action for High-A Winston-Salem and has gone 5-for-9 with two homers through his first three games since returning.

Nash missed the first 50 games of the season to a suspension for testing positive for an amphetamine. While Nash has put up solid numbers with High-A Winston-Salem over the past two seasons (.273 with 13 homers through 154 at-bats), he hasn't progressed past the Double-A level and may never do so.

Santana went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Sunday's win over Minnesota.

After leading off all season, Santana was dropped to the five-hole Sunday, and Jason Kipnis batted first. Kipnis hit two home runs and Santana hit his fourth of the season, so the swap might stick. Considering Santana's underwhelming start to the year, being relegated down the lineup could be the catalyst for an uptick in production without sacrificing much fantasy upside. He'll certainly be in line for more RBI opportunities while batting in the middle of the lineup.

Cron (foot) was activated from the 10-day disabled list, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports. He'll start at first base and bat sixth in the lineup Sunday against the Tigers.

Cron rejoins the Angels following a three-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake, during which he went 5-for-12 with a home run and two doubles. With Luis Valbuena beating him back from the disabled list, Cron looks bound to settle for the small side of a platoon at first base, though both will be in Sunday's lineup with designated hitter Albert Pujols (personal) unavailable.