MLB Player News

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus drove in two runs in a 6-2 win over Houston on Saturday. 

Andrus went one for four, raising his average for the season to .167. His two-run single in the fifth helped give the Rangers some breathing room. 

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha will hit second in Friday night's game against the Mariners, according to MLB.com. 

A day before in the series-finale against the Rangers, Canha hit seventh. This season, Canha is already 4 of 9 with two double and four RBI. Catcher Stephen Vogt will move down the lineup and bat seventh. 

Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Eric Sogard also switched places from Thursday's lineup. Semien will hit eighth and Sogard ninth. 

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus hit seventh for a second straight game Friday against the Astros. Andrus, who hit second in the first three games, is not complaining about batting seventh after Thursday's 10-1 win against the A's.

“In the end, it's all about winning," he said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Andrus is batting .125 (2 for 16) with no extra-base hits and no RBI in four games. He has one run, one strikeout and no walks.

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is hoping to make a better impression with his new club than he did with the Royals, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Giavotella, who was acquired by the Angels from the Royals in exchange for right-hander Brian Broderick this offseason, beat out Grant Green and Josh Rutledge for the second base job. He is hitting .444/.500/.444 through three games. He entered 2015 with a .238 average in 125 big-league games.

"Any time you're called up to the big leagues, it's an opportunity to show them what you can do at this level," Giavotella said. "If it's 10 at-bats or 100 at-bats, you have to utilize that to your advantage.

"Unfortunately, in Kansas City, I don't think I made a big enough impression for them to feel confident enough to put me in the lineup every day at second base, so they chose to go with other guys."

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien had an RBI in three of the four games against the Rangers, including an RBI double during Thursday's 10-1 loss. It was his first extra-base hit of the season.

Semien is batting .308 (4 for 13) with one run, one walk, three RBI and four strikeouts in four games, after batting .288 (19 for 66) with three home runs, five doubles, 11 RBI and 14 runs in 24 games during spring training.

Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is expected to take a scheduled day of rest Friday against the Red Sox, manager Joe Girardi said, per MLB.com. The Yankees will face a left-handed starter for the second straight night, in Boston's Wade Miley, and it may open the door for Gregorio Petit to start. 

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday's batting order against the Orioles will be the standard lineup for when a left-handed starter is on the mound, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Orioles are starting Wei-Yin Chen on Tuesday.

The Rays lineup Tuesday was Brandon Guyer (LF), Steven Souza (RF), Asdrubal Cabrera (SS), Evan Longoria (3B), Desmond Jennings (CF), Logan Forsythe (DH), James Loney (1B), Rene Rivera (C) and Tim Beckham (2B).

Rays second baseman Nick Franklin took part in batting practice Tuesday, taking swings from the left side without any issue, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Franklin, who is dealing with an oblique injury, said it went well and had no issues. Franklin is on the 15-day DL and is eligible to return to the lineup Saturday.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve singled once in four at-bats during the team's 2-0 victory over the Indians on Opening day.

"I wanted to put the ball in play," Altuve said. "As soon as I got on first base, I knew Springer was hitting behind me, and if I got to second base, he can drive me in. That's what happened, and we took the lead, and that's pretty important in the inning."

Altuve was last year's batting champion finishing with a league-high batting average of .341, adding seven home runs and 59 RBI on 225 hits.

The Rays placed five players on the disabled list to set their Opening Day roster. 

Among the moves the team made on Sunday were: 

Placed P Alex Cobb (forearm), infielder Nick Franklin (oblique) and P Drew Smyly (shoulder) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 27. They are eligible to return on April 11, although none are expected to be ready by then.

Placed P Jake McGee (elbow) on the 15-day disabled list as of April 5.

Placed pitcher Matt Moore (elbow) on the 60-day disabled list as of April 5.

Added catcher Bobby Wilson to the roster.