MLB Player News

Forsythe (back) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Padres, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Forsythe will sit for the second straight day after being scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back spasms. The Rays are considering the infielder day-to-day, and he said he's aiming to return for Friday's matchup against the Rangers. Nick Franklin will get the nod at second base Wednesday.

Franklin has been added to Tuesday's lineup.

With Logan Forsythe scratched due to back spasms, Franklin will step in at second base and atop the batting order to face Padres right-hander Edwin Jackson. Franklin has fared reasonably well in a semi-regular role this month, going 10-for-41 with two home runs, seven RBI and two stolen bases.

Forsythe was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to back spasms.

Nick Franklin is now slated to man second base and lead off against Padres right-hander Edwin Jackson. Forsythe has been going strong since his return from a shoulder injury in mid-June, starting 59 straight games and completing all but one of them. The extent of this setback is uncertain.

Forsythe went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and another RBI on a sacrifice fly in Monday's victory over the Padres.

The veteran infielder snapped a 1-1 tie in the second with a 440-foot blast off Luis Perdomo, plating Corey Dickerson. Forsythe's eighth-inning sacrifice fly that drove in Logan Morrison extended the Rays lead to 5-1 at the time and served as his fourth RBI over the last two games. Forsythe's five homers in August represent his best monthly total this season and he's also raised his average 14 points since Aug. 1.

Andrus said Monday he has been hobbled with a minor groin strain since May, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

There hasn't been a change in Andrus' playing time during the season, and with just a slightly lower steals mark than last year, not to mention career highs in batting average (.290) and slugging (.407), this injury doesn't seem to be affecting his fantasy value.

Franklin went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Sunday's 12-3 thrashing of the Yankees.

He's been struggling to build any momentum at the plate this month -- Franklin has three multi-hit performances but five ohfers in 10 games in August -- so hopefully Sunday afternoon's fireworks will allow him to catch fire. With Oswaldo Arcia (elbow) and Logan Morrison (forearm) set to come off the DL soon, Franklin needs to string together some good games to secure his spot in the lineup.

Forsythe went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo shot and two runs scored in Sunday's thrashing of the Yankees.

That's now four homers in the last eight games for Forsythe, pushing his slash line in August to .353/.433/.627 in 51 at-bats. He's also already scored 14 runs on the month as he continues to thrive in the leadoff spot for the Rays.

Marte is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

Marte returned from mononucleosis last Tuesday and had started at shortstop in each of his first four games back, going 1-for-15 with a pair of walks and runs scored. In an effort to ease Marte back in a little bit, Mariners manager Scott Servais will rest his young shortstop during Sunday's matinee, enabling Shawn O'Malley to pick up a start at the position.

Andrus is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister has been making a habit lately of resting Andrus on Sundays, allowing utility man Jurickson Profar to take a turn at shortstop. Andrus went 0-for-7 in the first two games of the series with the Tigers, but is hitting .275 with eight RBI, six runs and two steals since the All-Star break.

Altuve went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and run scored in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays. He was also caught stealing on his one attempt.

The All-Star second baseman continues his MVP-caliber season, with Saturday's production extending his current hitting streak to six games. Altuve also has three doubles, Saturday's three-bagger and five RBI over that span, and his season line is up to a jaw-dropping .365/.431/.578.