MLB Player News

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is out of the starting lineup for the first time this season, after 44 starts. 

Altuve snapped a string of 88 straight starts, dating back to last season. He's replaced by Marwin Gonzalez, who moves over from shortstop. 

Jonathan Villar replaces Gonzalez at short. 

Angels left fielder Collin Cowgill was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup. He was replaced by Matt Joyce. 

Cowgill has been bothered by a sore back and was unable to complete pregame batting practice, per MLB.com.

Also, with a lefthander facing the Angels, second baseman Johnny Giavotella is out of the lineup for just the fourth time this season.

"He's been in the air a lot the last part of this little dry spell," manager Mike Scioscia said to the Orange County Register. "His game is really line drives, hard groundballs, working counts. I don't think there's pressing. I haven't seen his demeanor change or his game change. We're looking to get our offense deeper, and he’s an important guy to lengthen our lineup."

He's replaced by Taylor Featherston.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus did not get left out of a 10-run inning Saturday against the Yankees.

Andrus hit a two-run single the midst of the onslaught and later added a sacrfice fly for his first three-RBI game of the season. He also singled in the second inning as he vaulted his average to .235.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien was given the night off on Friday against Tampa Bay, after an 0-for-4 performance that put an end to an eight-game hitting streak the previous day. With Semien out of the lineup, manager Bob Melvin gave newcomer Andy Parrino the start at shortstop.

Semien is hitting .338 (26 for 77) with three doubles, two triples, three homers and three RBI over his last 19 games played.

Seattle is an underdog (+126) at Tropicana Field, per VegasInsider.com.

Rays infielder Tim Beckham is in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the A's. Beckham, who is making his first start since Saturday, will play second base while batting eighth. 

The former first-overall draft pick has struggled at the plate this season, and has just four hits in 30 at-bats this month. Logan Forsythe, the team's regular second baseman, will be the designated hitter on Friday. 

Third baseman Conor Gillaspie is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Indians.

Gillaspie will be replaced by Gordon Beckham, who is starting for just the 10th time this season.

Gillaspie is hitting .261/.303/.424 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 92 at-bats this season.

Struggling Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is set to sit Thursday against visiting Oakland. Nick Franklin will play the position instead.

Cabrera has been steadily unproductive since mid-April. His batting average has not been higher than .225 since that point. He currently owns a stat line of .209/.264/.338 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 148 at-bats.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien extended his current hitting streak to eight games with a 1 for 5 effort in Wednesday's loss to the Astros. Semien has 12 hits, including a double, two triples and a home run in 33 at-bats during the eight-game stretch.

Overall this season, Semien owns a .309 batting average with six home runs in 160 at-bats.

He did commit his American League-leading 16th error of the season on Wednesday, as he continues to work on his defensive game. 

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is out of the starting lineup for the first time since April 25. Giavotella had started each of the last 21 games for manager Mike Scioscia, hitting a .247 clip with three doubles and eight RBI over that stretch.

Scioscia decided to give him a day off, however, and will give Taylor Featherston the start at the keystone position. Featherstone was also in the lineup at third base on Tuesday, and has just one hit in 16 at-bats this season. 

Rays infielder Nick Franklin is already contributing in just his second day back with the team after a stint on the disabled list, according to MLB.com.

"We had a great conversation today," said manager Kevin Cash. "Nick's been very in tune to what's going on here. Followed us a lot [while he was on the DL]. He's excited to join us. He's going to definitely have a valuable role for us."

Cash will rotate Franklin into the starting lineup to get him acclimated.

"We will definitely get him some starts simply because we've asked a lot of Logan [Forsythe] and Cabby [Asdrubal Cabrera] early on this year," Cash said. "So we want to keep them fresh. We'll work him in probably a couple of times a week. Factoring in on how some of the other guys are doing."