MLB Player News

Altuve will get the day off Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Altuve recorded his fourth consecutive three-hit game Friday against Toronto and is now hitting a brilliant .342/.410/.539. He has taken just four days off all season and just one since May 14th, so he'll get a chance to rest before heading off to take part in the All-Star Game festivities.

Altuve went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Friday's 12-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Since moving to the second spot in the batting order four games ago, Altuve has blown up, going 12-for-20 and producing three hits in each game. Altuve's added five runs and seven RBI during that run.

Semien (wrist) went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Mariners.

Semien wasted no time getting back into the swing of things in his first game action since April 14, even getting the green light on the basepaths. The 26-year-old had been scuffling at the plate before his injury, but had only logged 35 official at-bats before being sidelined. With what Semien and the team hope will be a much more extended sample in front of him, the slugging shortstop will look to get back to the type of production he proved capable of in a breakout 2016 campaign (56 extra-base hits, 75 RBI).

Giavotella's contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Although it's not saying much, Giavotella has been having an excellent season with the Tides. He's batting .306 while walking nearly as often as he strikes out (34:41 BB:K). He'll forego his Triple-A All Star selection to head to the majors to provide some infield depth off the bench. To make room for him on the active roster, Jayson Aquino was optioned to Triple-A and David Washington was designated for assignment.

Semien (wrist) was reinstated from the disabled list Thursday.

As anticipated, the 26-year-old shortstop will resume his regular duties for the Athletics ahead of Thursday's series opener with the Mariners. Semien did miss a good chunk of time due to this injury, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the Athletics ease him back into action. Once he does get back to full duty, however, he'll likely take over as the primary shortstop and knock Franklin Barreto to the bench. To make room for him on the active roster, Jharel Cotton (finger) was sent to the disabled list and Andrew Triggs (hip) was moved to the 60-day DL.

Altuve went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 10-4 win over the Braves.

It's his second straight three-hit performance, extending his on-base streak to 13 games, and Altuve now has five steals in his last seven games and 17 on the year, putting him on pace for his sixth straight season with 30 or more.

Espinosa is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Twins.

It will mark the second consecutive game that Espinosa will be on the bench, an indication that his hold on an everyday role at the keystone is slipping. The Angels will go with their third different second baseman is as many days with Cliff Pennington receiving the start Wednesday after Nick Franklin handled the position Tuesday.

Andrus was put on the paternity list prior to Wednesday's series finale against Boston, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Andrus will miss Wednesday's game and could be out until Sunday if he winds up spending the full three games away from the team. This marks the first time in nine years since Andrus is not on the active roster for Texas. In a corresponding move, the team recalled Jurickson Profar from the minors to start at shortstop while Andrus is away.

Barreto is expected to report back to Triple-A Nashville at some point during the Athletics' four-game series with the Mariners that begins Monday, Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Injuries to Marcus Semien (wrist) and Chad Pinder (hamstring) prompted the Athletics to give Barreto his first promotion to the majors, but the 21-year-old will soon be due to lose out on an everyday role at shortstop with Semien set to come off the 60-day disabled list in the coming days. Barreto has had his moments during his first 10 games in the big leagues -- with his walkoff home run Tuesday representing his most notable achievement -- but with a .211 average over 38 at-bats, he could probably benefit from some further finishing in the minors.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin confirmed Semien (wrist) would return from the 60-day disabled list during the team's series with the Mariners that begins Thursday, Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Athletics haven't tipped their hand on how they'll open up a roster spot for Semien, but it's likely that prized prospect Franklin Barreto, who has been seeing regular time at shortstop, will be optioned back to Triple-A Nashville to facilitate the move. Semien, who has out since mid-April after fracturing his right wrist, has performed well during his eight-game rehab assignment that has included stops in the California and Pacific Coast Leagues, going 10-for-31 with two home runs and three doubles. The extra-base knocks offer encouragement that his surgically-repaired wrist won't limit his power production as he prepares to settle back into an everyday role up the middle for the Athletics.