MLB Player News

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is finally getting a day off, as he is being held out of Friday's starting lineup against the Blue Jays. Giavotella is apparently dealing with an illness which has forced him to return home, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Giavotella, who is in the midst of a bit of a breakout season, is batting just .211 (8 for 38) over his last 10 ballgames. Ryan Jackson will get the start at the keystone position on Friday.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien hit a three-run home run to help send the A's to a 5-0 win over the Orioles on Tuesday.

Semien hit his 10th home run of the season off Chaz Roe in the sixth inning. It was his only hit in three at-bats during the contest.

Prior to Tuesday's win, Semien was hitting .125 with one home run and one RBI in his last 10 games.

Rays infielder Logan Forsythe got the scoring started on Tuesday, as he hit a two-run home run off Chris Sale in the first inning. It was the only hit of the night for Forsythe, as the Rays went on to win big, 11-3 over the White Sox. 

Forsythe, who also walked and scored later in the game, went deep for the 13th time this season and the second time in his past four games.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had a big night at the plate in Tuesday's 10-5 win over the Angels. Altuve went 3 for 5 with a double, a run scored and five RBI.

The five RBI represent a career-high for the 2015 All-Star second baseman. Altuve is rolling at the plate once again, as he is batting .405 with a homer and 10 RBI in his last 10 ballgames. 

The Rays activated shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera after Monday's win over the Tigers, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Cabrera has been out since July 11 with a hamstring injury.

To make room for Cabrera, the team optioned first baseman Jake Elmore to Triple-A. Prior to Monday's game, Elmore was hitting .206 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 141 at-bats.

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe went 2 for 3 with a walk, a home run and a RBI in Sunday's loss to the Orioles.

Forsythe, who had his six-game hit streak snapped on Saturday, is hitting .385 with 10 hits, three doubles, two home runs and six RBI over his last eight games.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series-opener against the Giants. Semien had started 19 straight games for Oakland, batting just .227 (15 for 66) with two home runs over that stretch.

Eric Sogard will slide over and get the start at shortstop, with Ben Zobrist covering second base against the crosstown rivals on Friday. 

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe will not have a chance to extend his hitting streak to seven unless he emerges from the bench Friday against Baltimore. He is out of the lineup.

Forsythe is 3-for-14 lifetime against scheduled Orioles starter Chris Tillman.

His .283/.369/.438 slash line has been helped by his recent roll in which he has produced eight hits and five RBI in 19 at-bats.

Forsythe has started all but two games since June 2.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve came through in the clutch, as he launched a game-winning, walk-off home run to beat the Red Sox 5-4 on Thursday. 

The home run, his ninth of the year, was part of a four-hit night for the All-Star second baseman. Altuve singled twice and doubled and scored a run earlier in the game. He also swiped his 28th base of the year, as he successfully filled up the scoresheet on Thursday.

This was the first walk-off home run of Altuve's career, and just the second walk-off hit of any kind.

Altuve is batting .414 with four doubles and two homers over his current seven-game hitting streak.

Angels infielder Grant Green was optioned back to Triple-A on Thursday. The Angels recalled him last week, and he registered one plate-appearance.

The Angels will be making a corresponding move, likely to add a pitcher to the roster, at a later time.