MLB Player News

Semien went 1-for-3 with three RBI from a fielder's choice and a two-run single in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Rangers. He also walked twice and scored once.

Semien has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 contests, a span during which he's also compiled four doubles, a triple, a home run and all 10 of his RBI for the month. The surge has boosted his season average 23 points to .258 since Aug. 1.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and another run scored in Sunday's 7-5 win over the Angels.

Altive did his damage early, taking Ricky Nolasco deep with a man on in the first inning. The diminutive second baseman reached the 20-homer mark for the second consecutive season with this effort and is on pace to top 100 runs for the second time in that span with 87 through 125 games played. He's slashing career highs across his triple slash at .356/.415/.565.

Andrus went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Athletics.

After submitting a pair of multi-hit performances to begin the series, Andrus' season average is back up to .298, which would represent the second-best mark of his career. A .334 BABIP has certainly helped Andrus, but since he's been hitting for more power than ever with a .470 slugging percentage, his strong batting average shouldn't be written off as a byproduct of extreme good fortune.

Altuve (neck) is starting at second base and batting third Saturday against the Angels.

Altuve was removed from Thursday's contest with neck discomfort, but he's good to go again after being held out of Friday's contest. The 27-year-old, who is slashing an impressive .380/.420/.593 with six homers and 11 stolen bases in 37 games since the All-Star break, will face Tyler Skaggs in his return to the starting lineup.

Altuve (neck) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Marwin Gonzalez will take over at second base in place of Altuve, who left Thursday's game with neck discomfort. He will be forced to miss at least one start as a result of the issue, but the Astros haven't given any indication that this is more than a day-to-day concern.

Espinosa was signed by the Rays prior to Friday's game against the Cardinals, Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times reports.

Espinosa will provide versatility in the infield for Tampa Bay as he can help out at several positions off the bench with his new club. The 30-year-old was recently released by the Mariners, and Tampa Bay marks his third different major-league home this season after beginning 2017 with the Angels. Espinosa has slashed .164/.237/.279 with six home runs and 31 RBI in 85 games this season.

Altuve left Thursday's game against the Nationals with neck discomfort, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

Altuve left in the seventh inning and was replaced at second base by Marwin Gonzalez. This is likely the kind of injury Altuve would be playing through if it weren't for the Astros' double-digit lead in the American League West. Consider him day-to-day.

Semien (wrist) went 3-for-5 with two RBI from a single and a double in Wednesday's 8-7 extra-inning loss to the Orioles. He also walked and scored once.

Semien was given a day off Tuesday due to irritation of the scar tissue in his surgically repaired wrist, but Wednesday's performance seemed to confirm that it was nothing too serious. The slugging shortstop has compiled seven multi-hit efforts in August, five of which have come in the last eight contests.

Motter entered Wednesday's 9-6 win over the Braves as a pinch runner in the third inning and went 2-for-3 with a two-run single, a double and two runs.

Motter took over for Robinson Cano after the latter felt hamstring tightness and produced his first multi-hit effort since June 20 in the process. The utility man extraordinaire was just recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, where he'd dominated with a .350 average and seven home runs over 25 games. Motter figures to see occasional starts at various positions, with a string of them in Cano's stead a real possibility in the short term.

Polanco went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

The switch hitter only has seven homers on the season, but incredibly four of them have come in the last four games. There's no telling how long Polanco will be locked in like this at the plate, but it's perhaps not a coincidence that his power surge came during a series against the woeful White Sox. Fortunately for any fantasy GMs with shares in the shortstop, he'll get to face the Pale Hose again next week after a three-game weekend set in a solid hitter's park in Toronto.