MLB Player News

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not ready to rejoin the lineup, as he is on the bench for Friday's game against the Mariners. Altuve has started just three of the last seven games, playing a full nine innings in just one of those starts.

He is surffering from a sore hamstring that has been bothering him since last week, and there's currently no timetable for his return to the lineup.

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella hit his third home run of the season against the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Giavotella went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in the third inning.

Giavotella boosted his batting average to .271 with the performance. He has three home runs and 22 RBI in 207 at-bats this season.

As expected, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Rockies after suffering a setback with his hamstring injury Wednesday. Marwin Gonzalez drew the start at second base in his absence.

"It's day to day," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's already gone through one round of treatments, and he'll go through another round of treatments. He's doesn't feel a lot of discomfort, so that's an encouraging sign. I really don't want to play him until we're certain he can play with the pace of play that we're accustomed to. We'll be very careful with him."

Hinch said Altuve doesn't need to undergo an MRI.

“Right now, the information we're getting indicates that's not necessary, so not at this point," he said.

Altuve is batting .250 (12 for 48) with one double, three RBI, four runs, one walk, seven strikeouts and two stolen bases in 13 June games.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was removed from Wednesday's game in the third inning against the Rockies. Altuve exited with right hamstring soreness.

Altuve had to leave the game on Friday and missed the next three games with the hamstring issue. And while he was able to return for Tuesday's action, he apparently was not at full-health on Wednesday. 

Manager A.J. Hinch indicated Altuve would not play on Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

"He didn't look great yesterday, he didn't look great today," Hinch said. "I didn't want to see anymore. We've got to be so cautious with him, especially here at the high altitude. I don't think he felt great, and I had seen enough and wanted to get him out of the game. I want to err on the side of caution with him."

White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham will start against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Beckham, who is in the midst of a horrid slump at the plate, will bat in the seventh position.

In his last 10 games, Beckham is hitting .065 with just two hits in 31 at-bats.

Although Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is back in the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury, the Houston coaching staff have put some restrictions on him until he gets back to 100 percent.

"We put the red light on him when he came back -- no steals," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB Network Radio on Wednesday. "He's a smart player and we don't want to lose him."

Altuve has 17 stolen bases in 62 games.

Slumping Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien is getting the day off on Tuesday, as he is being held out of the lineup against the Padres. Semien had started 12 of 13 games for the A's this month, but is batting .195 with one extra-base hit over that span. He has also committed four errors this month.

Eric Sogard will get the start at shortstop and bat second on Tuesday, in what is likely just a rest day for Semien. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Rockies after missing three games due to a hamstring injury.

Altuve heads into Tuesday's game batting .262 (11 for 42) with one double, two RBI, three runs, seven strikeouts and two stolen bases in 11 June games.

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe went 3 for 5 at the plate to help lead the Rays to a 6-1 win over the Nationals on Monday.

Forsythe also drove in two runs during the contest. Over his last 15 games, Forsythe is 12 for 52 with two home runs and nine RBI.

The weekend absence of Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has now extended beyond the weekend. He is sidelined again Monday against Colorado with a hamstring problem.

Altuve, who sustained the injury Friday, has not played since. But he is available off the bench Monday and should return to action Tuesday, per MLB.com.

He was in a rare slump before going down with just three hits in his last 20 at-bats.