MLB Player News

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is batting second in Tuesday's matchup with the Red Sox.

Andrus has been the team's No. 2 hitter for much of the season but was dropped to six for the last two games, with Delino DeShields moving up to second. However, Andrus will resume his regular role Tuesday against lefty Wade Miley. The shortstop has hit .362/.423/.511 with one home run and three RBI in 47 at-bats against lefties.

The Rangers are underdogs (+125) in Boston on Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Rays second baseman Nick Franklin went 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored in his season debut on Sunday as his team rolled over the Twins, 11-3.

Franklin is getting a late start to the season after suffering an oblique injury.

"I’m excited to play," Franklin said, per the Tampa Tribune. "When I found out what the MRI showed (after the injury), I prepared myself. It’s been a month and a half — plenty of season left."

Manager Kevin Cash said that Franklin's versatility and switch-hitting ability will be important, but that infielder Logan Forsythe has earned a big role with the team.

"Nick can play second base or shortstop and give some guys an extra day of rest," Cash said. "Logan’s been outstanding, but at the same time, we have to be smart about the workload of some of these guys. Logan’s a big part of what we’re doing."

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien has become the main factor of Oakland's defensive issues this season. He added two more errors to his total, putting him at 13, the most in the league. It's something he's trying to fix, according to MLB.com.

"I don't focus on the number of errors," Semien said. "I focus on fixing them, making the play, making the next play. If I see the number of errors building up, it's not going to affect me. That's what shows up in the box score. That can't bother you as an infielder, as a defensive player."

Manager Bob Melvin is still looking for answers to his team's defensive miscues, racking up a total of 42 errors in 39 games.

"Just snowballing on us right now," Melvin said, "to where I think guys are thinking about it quite a bit -- don't make an error -- and we ended up doing it. We're not playing clean games at this point. They're ugly-looking games. It affects how you play. It affects your confidence."

A day after being activated from the disabled list, Rays infielder Nick Franklin is back in the starting lineup on Sunday, playing second base and batting eighth. 

Franklin had been on the disabled list with an oblique injury.

Franklin's return moved Logan Forsythe to designated hitter. It's his second start at DH this seaosn.  

Rays right-hander Andrew Bellatti received praise from Kevin Cash after pitching three scoreless innings in his major league debut Monday.

He has not pitched since. And on Saturday, he was optioned out to make room for veteran utility infielder Nick Franklin, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.

Franklin has been activated after spending time on the disabled list with an oblique strain. He has been out all season.

Rangers manager Jeff Banister dropped shortstop Elvis Andrus down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order on Saturday against the Indians, per MLB.com. Andrus started 25 of Texas' 36 games in the No. 2. Delino DeShields will take over that role on Saturday.

"Let's see if Delino can carry what he's been doing in the nine hole up to the two slot," manager Jeff Banister said to the Dallas Morning News. "Against right-handers, that's been a bit of a challenge for us."

Andrus is hitting .190 (4 for 21) over his last six games, lowering his batting average from .230 to .224 on the year.

Texas is an underdog (+124) at home against the Indians.

Rays manager Kevin Cash moved James Loney as a designated hitter for Saturday's contest against Minnesota.

Cash told reporters he planned to give his regular first baseman a DH day at some point over the weekend, and felt Saturday was the best day to do so, per the Tampa Bay Times. Logan Forsythe moved to first base, with David DeJesus in left field.

Loney is hitting .241 (19 for 79) with three doubles, two homers and seven RBI this season.

Tampa Bay is favored (-110) at Minnesota, per VegasInsider.com.

Jose Altuve knocked a three-run homer Friday in the Astros' victory over the Blue Jays.

Jose Altuve's home run was his fifth of the season. 

"He's certainly hunting for the opportunities to do damage," manager A.J. Hinch said to the Houston Chronicle. "There's a powerful swing in there. He's going to some big parts of the ballpark. That's big-man territory when he hits the ball on the barrel."

The second baseman hit seven homers all of last year during his batting-title winning season (.341).

For the first time since May 8, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is in the lead-off spot on Friday against the Blue Jays. Altuve has been hitting second over the last five games, while Jake Marisnick was atop of the batting order.

But Marisnick struggled as the lead-off batter for manager A.J. Hinch, going just 3 for 21 over that stretch. Marisnick is being dropped back down to ninth in the order with Altuve back in the lead-off spot. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 2 for 3 in Thursday's win over Toronto. Altuve doubled, his ninth of the year, and scored twice. He walked once and saw his average increase to .333.

Altuve also stole two bases, giving him 13 on the season.