MLB Player News

Barreto will hit leadoff in Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

Barreto has not started a game since Sept. 9, but he will be in there Tuesday and will occupy the top spot in the batting order with Marcus Semien coming off the bench. While Barreto will hit first Tuesday, he figures be challenged by Tigers starter and lefty Chad Bell, as he is just 1-for-15 with a 2:11 BB:K against southpaws this season.

Semien is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

Semien notched two hits and three runs in Monday's game, but he will be held out Tuesday with manager Bob Melvin looking to get fellow shortstop Franklin Barreto a start against a left-handed starter. Tuesday's game will be just the second Semien has not started since Aug. 22, so he figures to return to the lineup Wednesday.

Semien went 2-for-5 with three runs in Monday's 8-3 win over the Tigers.

Semien did an impressive job setting the table from the top of the order, generating his fifth multi-hit effort of September in the process. Despite a subpar .299 OBP for the month, Semien has already crossed the plate on 12 occasions in 16 games.

Altuve is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mariners.

Altuve will receive a rare day off Sunday as the Astros opt to start Marwin Gonzalez at second base. Houston has Monday off, so look for Altuve to return to action Tuesday against the White Sox.

Andrus went 0-for-3 at the dish in Thursday's 10-4 loss to the Mariners.

After a red-hot August and strong start to September, Andrus has cooled off over the past six games, going 3-for-19 with three walks. The minor slump shouldn't prompt Andrus' fantasy owners to take him out of the lineup, as he's been one of the top performing shortstops all season and should play nearly every day with the Rangers still fighting for a playoff spot.

Despite going 0-for-2 Wednesday against the White Sox, Merrifield managed two walks and inched closer to the AL stolen base lead with his 29th swipe of the season.

Merrifield sits just two stolen bases shy of Astros' second baseman Jose Altuve, and three swipes shy of matching his own minor-league career high. The second baseman has put together an impressive campaign after not making the Opening Day roster, and Merrifield (17 homers) is within reach of a 20-30 campaign in just his second MLB season.

Altuve went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in a loss to Oakland in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.

The second baseman is capping off another monster fantasy campaign and is now up to 23 homers, 76 RBI, 31 stolen bases, 98 runs and a .350/.410/.564 slash line. While those are elite numbers at all positions, they're even more impactful from the keystone. Altuve also has a few more weeks to pad his final stat line.

Semien is not in the Athletics' lineup Saturday for Game 2 of their doubleheader, Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports California reports.

He led off in Game 1 and went 1-for-3 with three walks and one run scored. Semien will take a breather but likely will return to action Sunday. Franklin Barreto will take his place at shortstop.

Semien went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and a second run scored in Friday's 9-8 win over the Astros.

His seventh-inning blast, Semien's sixth home run of the year, tied the game at 7-7 to set up some ninth-inning heroics by Jed Lowrie. It was Semien's first home run since Aug. 16, but he's still been productive despite the power outage, slashing .295/.348/.443 with 11 runs and 11 RBI over his last 14 games.

Andrus went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and a run in Friday's 11-5 win over the Yankees.

Andrus' breakout season as a power hitter refuses to end, as the shortstop has now compiled 11 extra-base knocks -- including four home runs -- just in his last 10 games. He should continue to pile up the RBI in September now that on-base machines Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo are locked into the top two spots in the batting order.