MLB Player News

Jones, 19, is batting just .184/.222/.301 with three home runs, eight RBI and five steals through 25 games for Low-A Burlington.

Jones is considered one of the top prospects in the Angels organization, but he has struggled to make contact during the early portion of the 2017 campaign. Still, he has the potential to hit 10 home runs and steal 20 bases at a minimum, so he is worth keeping track of as he continues to mature and progress.

Espinosa went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Monday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to the Athletics.

Espinosa didn't start Monday's game, but he was forced into action when Andrelton Simmons suffered a bruised left hand and right thumb when he was hit by a pitch in the first inning. Espinosa extended his hitless streak to 31 at-bats, and his average is down to an embarrassing .142 on the year. The 30-year-old has a whopping 41 strikeouts and only seven walks, putting him in danger of losing more playing time to Cliff Pennington at the keystone.

Espinosa is not in the lineup Monday against the Athletics.

Espinosa will take a seat for the second time in three games amidst a brutal 2-for-46 (.043) slump at the plate. Cliff Pennington is starting at the keystone in his stead.

Merrifield will start at second base and bat sixth in the order Monday against the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

In an effort to shake up the lineup after the Royals were limited to one hit in Sunday's loss to the Indians, manager Ned Yost has decided to drop Merrifield five spots in the order. Given the lack of appealing alternatives at the top of the lineup, it's not out of the question for Merrifield to eventually reclaim leadoff duties, but he may have to offer more production at the plate in subsequent contests before moving up. Merrifield is batting .143/.196/.214 over his last 11 games.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Angels.

Altuve's third-inning homer, his fifth of the season, shifted the momentum in the game after the Angels jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The homer also atoned for him getting picked off first base in the first inning with Carlos Correa at the plate. A perennial MVP candidate, he's hitting a blistering .419 on the road this season compared to .236 at home, though those numbers should balance out as the season wears on. The Astros are off Monday and return to Houston for a quick two-game set against the Braves.

Motter went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, another two-bagger and a run in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Rangers.

After a hot start that had his average sitting at .321 on April 17, Motter had hit the skids at the plate, hitting safely in just seven of his subsequent 43 at-bats coming into Saturday. His effort against the Rangers represented his first multi-hit game since April 26, which also marked the date of his last extra-base hit. Despite the recent struggles, Motter offers tremendous defensive versatility. However, rookie Ben Gamel, who can back up all three outfield positions in his own right, could conceivably endanger Motter's roster spot if he's able to sustain his current surge while Mitch Haniger (oblique) remains out.

Altuve is out of Saturday's lineup against the Angels.

Altuve will get the day off on h is 27th birthday. He is hitting .297/.373/.450 with four home runs and nine steals in 126 plate appearances this season. Marwin Gonzalez will get the start at second base and hit seventh against righty JC Ramirez.

Espinosa is out of Saturday's lineup against the Astros.

He is in a brutal 2-for-44 (.045 average) funk at the plate, so he will get his third day off in the last nine games. Cliff Pennington is starting at second base and hitting eighth against righty Lance McCullers.

Andrus went 3-for-6 with a double, RBI and stolen base in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mariners in 13 innings.

Andrus recorded almost half of the Rangers' seven hits on the evening and continues to justify manager Jeff Banister's decision to deploy him in the cleanup spot. Though the shortstop has been regarded as a speed merchant for most of his career and still paces the team with six steals on the season, it's his growth as a power hitter that has really sent his fantasy value on an upward trajectory. His .504 slugging percentage is a career-best mark and trails only Joey Gallo among regulars in the Rangers lineup.

Andrus went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Thursday's 10-4 win over the Rangers.

Following a 12-game stretch where he failed to deliver an extra-base hit, Andrus has started tapping back into the power he displayed in the first two weeks of the season. He's now compiled a pair of doubles and homers to go with four walks over his last seven games, boosting his OPS to a career-best .823 mark. If Andrus is able to maintain his power gains to go along with his typically steady batting average and skills as a base stealer, he could finish as a top-10 fantasy shortstop in most leagues.