MLB Player News

First baseman Chris Carter is out of the Astros' lineup Saturday against the Mariners with Marwin González getting the start instead.

Carter has started at first base 20 of the Astros' 23 games this season.

With Jed Lowrie recently placed on the disabled list, Jonathan Villar will make his second straight start at shortstop on Saturday.

"Villar played very good shortstop (Friday)," manager A.J. Hinch said to the Houston Chronicle. "I want to keep him in the mix. I wanted Marwin to face Walker. He's had limited time against him, but he's had a little bit of success. We have to keep our guys fresh. One of the downsides of carrying 12 position players is the lack of rest you can get your guys. There's only three bench players, especially with (Evan) Gattis being the primary DH.

"So when I can get Carter off his feet for a day and it matches up well with Villar and Gonzo that’s good."

Despite Albert Pujols' return to the lineup on Saturday, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun remains in the cleanup spot, indicating this could be a permanent move, reports the Orange County Register.

Calhoun had been batting leadoff this season but shifted to fourth when Pujols sat Thursday and Friday to rest his hamstring.

"When we get things rolling with a lineup going one to nine and the bottom of the order getting on base like they did last year, Kole is a great fit as a leadoff hitter," Scioscia said. "But if you want to talk specifically about the lineup today, you want to try to get Kole hitting, taking advantage of whatever Mike or Albert can set up for him."

First baseman Albert Pujols (hamstring) will return to the Angels' lineup Saturday in San Fransico after missing two games with a hamstring issue.

Pujols exited Wednesday's game with the injury and sat out Thursday's and Friday's contest.

The move will shift center fielder Mike Trout back to the second spot in the lineup while Kole Calhoun stays in the cleanup role.

During Pujols' two-game absence, second baseman Johnny Giavotella moved from ninth to leadoff but will bat seventh on Saturday for the first time this season.

Making the adjustment this season as the team's full-time first baseman, the Astros' Chris Carter credits first base coach Rich Dauer and bench coach Trey Hillman with assisting him in the transition, per the Houston Chronicle.

“Richie and Trey have been there helping me out since spring training putting the reps in and being at first base every day and working with me,” Carter said. “Their dedication and being out there working with me every day has helped.”

Carter has started 19 of the Astros' 23 games at first base this season while only starting 14 times at first in 2014.

With Albert Pujols sidelined Thursday, the Angels moved Kole Calhoun to the cleanup spot, according to MLB.com. Mike Trout was moved from second to third, while Erick Aybar was inserted to the leadoff spot, with Johnny Giavotella moving from ninth to second.

Calhoun, who was the team's leadoff hitter 17 of the first 21 games, is hitting .406 (13 for 32) with six runs scored, two homers, five RBI four walks and six strikeouts over his last his last eight games, raising his batting average from .222 to .309 over that span.

Astros first baseman Chris Carter hit a two-run homer off Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne during a 14-3 win Tuesday. He finished 2 for 3 with one walk.

Carter has hit safely in seven straight games. He is batting .346 (9 for 26) with one double, two home runs, six RBI, five runs, five walks and seven strikeouts in that span.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, first baseman Carlos Santana and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall all have a pretty good track record against Royals starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who is on the hill Tuesday for Kansas City.

Kipins is batting .550 (11 for 20) with two home runs, three doubles and nine RBI in his career against Guthrie. While Santana is batting .476 (10 for 21) with two home runs, three doubles and four RBI, and Chisenhall is batting .533 (8 for 15) with one double, one home run and five RBI against the veteran right-hander.

The Angels flip-flopped positions for two regulars on Sunday. Albert Pujols, who has started at first base in 17 of the team's 18 games, will play designated hitter. 

C.J. Cron, who has 13 starts at DH, will play first base. 

The Angels are -144 favorites at home against Texas. 

When the season began, Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron couldn't buy a hit. Not he's pretty much hitting every other game. When he starts hitting every day, he'll truly be hot.

For now, he's lukewarm. But he did peak with a 3-for-4 performance Friday night against Texas. Cron doubled, singled twice and scored in the fourth to raise his average over .200 for the first time.

He has hit safely in just five of his last eight games, but managed multiple hits in three of them and has three doubles during that stretch.

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana drove in two runs in Friday's win over Detroit. Santana went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. He scored three times and increased his average to .222 with 10 RBI.