MLB Player News

Santana went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run during Thursday's win over Minnesota.

While it's been a mediocre start for Santana (.254/.315/.433 slash line), he's gone 9-for-24 with three runs, two doubles, a home run and seven RBI over his past five games. Additionally, leading off hasn't hurt his RBI opportunities and improves his upside to score runs. It's also a boon in daily contests. With a career .364 on-base percentage entering Thursday, Santana has more value in leagues that count OBP.

Flores is dealing with an infection and is unavailable to play Thursday against the Phillies, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

Lucas Duda is dealing with a hyperextended wrist, so had Flores been healthy, he would have likely filled in at first base for Thursday's contest. However, he's unavailable due to an unspecified infection. Consider him day-to-day for now.

Gurriel is out of Thursday's lineup against the Angels.

He is hitting .279, but has just two extra-base hits and one home run through 43 at-bats. The Astros will opt to keep Marwin Gonzalez's bat in the lineup against righty Matt Shoemaker following the return of Carlos Correa, but Gurriel still figures to get the start at first base most days going forward.

Abreu went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Wednesday's 9-1 loss to the Yankees.

Abreu entered Wednesday's game with a .380 OPS and had been 2-for-31 in the first eight games of the White Sox's road trip. So, having the slugger snap out of his funk, even a little bit, was an encouraging sign for manager Rick Renteria.

Freeman went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 14-4 loss to the Nats.

His third-inning solo shot off Joe Ross, his sixth homer of the season, set a new franchise record as Freeman reached base in his 12th consecutive plate appearance. The first baseman has been carrying the Atlanta offense so far, slashing .440/.533/.920 through 14 games, but it's a testament to how cold the top of the order has been that he's only got eight RBI.

Calhoun is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

This is hardly a surprise considering the Angels are facing a tough lefty in Dallas Keuchel and Calhoun is coming off another 0-fer Tuesday -- a four-strikeout showing against Houston. Calhoun's average has dropped nearly 100 points (from .316 to .218) over the course of the last five games. He is 1-for-12 against southpaws so far after batting .290/.366/.465 against left-handed pitching last season.

Bell went 1-for-4 with a solo home run -- his first of the season -- during Wednesday's loss to St. Louis.

Pittsburgh is going to need Bell to continue making a difference at the dish after the 80-game ban of Starling Marte was announced Tuesday. Bell showed promise as a rookie last season, and especially by walking more times than he struck out (21:19 BB:K). He sports a mini three-game hitting streak (4-for-12), and with the potential of earning a consistent gig in the top half of the Pirates' lineup, Bell is going to be handed an opportunity to succeed.

Stassi will see time in left field along with Daniel Nava and Aaron Altherr while Howie Kendrick (abdomen) is sidelined, Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Kendrick might only need the minimum 10 days on the disabled list before he returns. That will present limited opportunities for playing time for Stassi and the others in left field. Nava has started in left field for the two games Kendrick has missed thus far.

Calhoun had a rough day at the plate Tuesday, going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in a 5-2 win over Houston.

After a hot start to the season, the 29-year-old's bat has gone ice-cold recently. Calhoun has failed to record a hit in his last 17 at-bats, watching his batting average dip to .218 in the process. He has too much of a recent track record to simply be dumped this early in the season, so owners should ride out the slump or simply bench the outfielder until he turns things around.

Gurriel went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Angels.

He came out of the gate slowly, but the 32-year-old Cuban has now collected nine hits in his last six games to push his slash line on the season up to a semi-respectable .268/.286/.390. With A.J. Reed hitting just .238 in Triple-A, Gurriel's starting role at first base seems secure.