MLB Player News

Motter is starting at shortstop and batting second against Jays left-hander J.A. Happ on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brad Miller is taking a seat with a left-handed starter taking the ball for Toronto. The right-handed hitting Motter is expected to help at multiple positions, particularly at second base with Logan Forsythe on the disabled list.

Kemp was officially recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Monday.

As expected, Kemp will come up and assume the roster spot of Preston Tucker, who was optioned following Sunday's game. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated catcher Erik Kratz for assignment Monday morning. At Triple-A, Kemp has split time between second base and the outfield, but considering the presence of Jose Altuve, Kemp will likely spend most of his time outside of the infield.

The Astros will call up Kemp prior to Tuesday's game against the White Sox, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Kemp will be called up to take the roster spot of Preston Tucker, who was optioned to Triple-A Fresno after Sunday's game. Kemp has split his time between second base and the outfield this season, but with Jose Altuve covering the keystone in Houston, he will primarily see action at other positions with the big club.

Motter is expected to play multiple positions while with the Rays, freelance Tampa Bay writer Roger Mooney reports.

The versatile 26-year-old will be put to good use during his stint with the major league club in Logan Forsythe's (shoulder) time on the DL, according to manager Kevin Cash. His defensive proficiency in both the infield and outfield has been borne out over both his minor league career and particularly during 2016 spring training, when he manned six different positions. His offense has been lacking however, as he's only slashed .190/.228/.303 over 142 at-bats at Triple-A Durham, along with four homers and 10 RBI.

Altuve went 1-for-5 in Sunday's loss to the Red Sox with two runs scored and two stolen bases.

He leads the majors in both categories, stealing 15 bases and crossing the plate 37 times so far while walking more than he's striking out (22:19 BB:K) and supplying a surprising amount of power with nine home runs and an overall .340/.430/.627 slash line. In short (cough), Altuve is really, really good.

Polanco went 2-for-4 on Sunday with two runs scored and a solo shot, his first major league home run, in a win over the Indians.

Getting just his second start since being called back up from Triple-A earlier in the month, Polanco certainly made the most of his opportunity. With Twins manager Paul Molitor acknowledging after the game that both Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe were not quite at 100 percent right now, Polanco could see a short-term uptick in his playing time.

Petit will make his second straight start at shortstop Sunday against the Mariners.

With Andrelton Simmons (thumb) on the DL, the depth-starved Angels will be forced to turn to Petit and Brendan Ryan to man shortstop for the next several weeks, neither of whom profile as appealing options at the position. Petit seems to have the leg up on the job battle for now, but as a glove-first player who owns a .258 batting average and two homers over 209 career MLB plate appearances, the 31-year-old could struggle to provide much value.

Motter was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Motter was batting just .190 across 142 at-bats at Durham, but produced four homers and eight stolen bases. The 26-year-old figures to serve as a utility man for the Rays after Logan Forsythe (shoulder) was placed on the DL on Saturday.

Altuve went 2-for-3 with three walks and a run scored in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Red Sox.

Just another day in Altuve's remarkable month- and overall season to date-- as he tallied his fourth straight multi-hit effort and extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's now slashing .400/.466/.700 over 50 May at-bats.

Forsythe (shoulder) will be reevaluated at the end of May.

Forsythe suffered a shoulder injury on May 10 and Friday's MRI revealed a hairline fracture in his shoulder blade. The Rays plan on reevaluating the injury three weeks from the date of the injury, at which point there figures to be a more concrete timeline for Forsythe's return to the diamond.