MLB Player News

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve may just not know how to struggle with the bat. Altuve hasn't quite been on the same pace from a year ago, but he's still been very productive at the top of the order.

Altuve has been held hitless in three of nine games in June, but still 10 hits in 35 at-bats this month. He hasn't had two consecutive hitless games since May 22-23. Overall this season, Altuve is slashing .295/.335/.402. He is currently ranked seventh in the American League with 71 hits, and his 17 stolen bases are tops in the league. 

Rays third baseman Jake Elmore is batting leadoff on Sunday, while designated hitter Joey Butler is batting third in his team's matchup with the Mariners.

It's the first time in each role for both players. Elmore has yet to bat higher than sixth in the lineup, but he'll lead off against Mariners lefty Mike Montgomery. Butler has been entrenched in the No. 2 spot in the lineup but will shift down with the team missing Evan Longoria for a second straight game.

The Rays are road favorites (-129) in Seattle, per VegasInsider.com.

The Rays juggled their lineup for Saturday's game with the Mariners, giving Nick Franklin, who has played primarily second base in his brief stint with Tampa Bay, his first start of the season at first base. 

Franklin has been practicing at first base as the Rays have been searching for an answer at the position with normal first baseman James Loney on the DL. 

Franklin, who is hitting eighth in the Rays lineup, is batting just .091 on the in 12 games this year. He previously played two seasons with the Mariners. 

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went 2 for 3 in Friday's win over Kansas City. He walked and scored in the game. 

Andrus also stole two bases, giving him eight on the season. 

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe hit a solo home run in the ninth inning of a scoreless game. 

Forsythe's blast provided all the offense in a 1-0 win over Seattle. He went 1 for 4 on the day with his seventh homer and 25th RBI. 

The Rangers moved third baseman Joey Gallo to the No. 5 spot in the order Friday night against the Royals, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Manager Jeff Banister swapped Gallo and Elvis Andrus in the lineup, batting Andrus sixth in the order.

Gallo is off to a monster start with a .417 batting average (5 for 12) with two homers and five RBI in his first three career games.

With Stephen Vogt sidelined with a leg issue, Athletics manager Bob Melvin shuffled the lineup, moving Marcus Semien back to the No. 2 hole, and moving Ben Zobrist to the No. 3 hole, which was normally occupied by Vogt.

Semien has started a team-high 28 games at the No. 2 spot. He is hitting .277 with six homers and 16 RBI in 55 games. Zobrist has 17 starts at the No. 3 hole. He is hitting .222 with two homers and 14 RBI in 23 games.

White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham delivered an RBI single in Thursday's loss to the Rangers. Beckham has been seeing regular playing time lately, and has been making the most of it. He has started 10 of the last 11 games for manager Robin Ventura, batting .333 (14 for 42) over that span.

"It's him playing well," said Ventura, per MLB.com. "He's been in the middle of a lot of stuff we've had. At times you have to [play the hot hand].

Beckham is back with the club who originally drafted him in 2008. Beckham spent the end of the 2014 season with the Angels after being traded to Anaheim in August.

"Some guys, you go away from where you originally were, and there's a different perspective," said manager Robin Ventura. "You might hear the same things but from different voices and a different set of eyes, and all of a sudden, you become a different person.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien sat for just the fourth time in 56 games Thursday against the Tigers. Eric Sogard made his third start at shortstop this season for Oakland in Semien's absence.

Semien is mired in a hitting slump. He is batting just .167 in his last 13 games, dropping his season average from .309 to .277 in that span.

Rays infielder Nick Franklin has been working with bench coach Tom Foley and taking reps at first base recently, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Franklin, who is hitting only .091 on the year, could emerge as an option against right-handers while the Rays continue to look for patches to fill the void of James Loney, who is sidelined with a broken finger.