MLB Player News

By trading Gordon Beckham to the Angels Thursday, the White Sox created a big hole up the middle that, for now at least, they'll attempt to fill with some combination of Carlos Sanchez and Leury Garcia. But neither figures to make as much of an impact long-term as Marcus Semien, who Fantasy owners may remember for the splash he made back in April and May filling in for an injured Beckham and then an injured Conor Gillaspie.

His final numbers didn't look so hot, but he showed his potential with a couple nice weeks. When the White Sox finally shipped him to Triple-A Charlotte, he slumped so badly that he fell off the radar for a while, but he's rebounded in July and August, batting .288 (51 for 177) with six homers and 14 doubles. Most encouraging is his exceptional on-base percentage during that time thanks to a 35-to-30 strikeout to walk ratio. His plate discipline put him on the map as a prospect last year but hasn't been as evident during his time in the big leagues so far.

So why isn't he up yet? Good question, but MLB.com has reported he will be when rosters expand in September. My guess is he gets most of the at-bats then, and with an Ian Kinsler-like combination of power and speed, I could see him making an impact in Fantasy.

The Angels have acquired second baseman Gordon Beckham from the White Sox Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Beckham has hit .221/.263/.336 over 390 at-bats. In return, the White Sox will receive a player to be named later or cash. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve capitalized Sunday on a defensive mistake by Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, which led to his first career grand slam in an 8-1 win at Boston.

The Astros got a break when manager Bo Porter won a challenge after Bogaerts picked up Marwin Gonzalez's grounder, ran to second for what looked like a force and fired to first. The problem was he threw the ball about a step before he tagged the bag. 

The inning continued after the challenge. Joe Kelly then walked Robbie Grossman before Altuve parked a grand slam to put Boston up 6-0 in the second inning.

''That there's a big play,'' said Porter, who said he was first told by the umpires that the play wasn't reviewable. ''You look at that stage of the game and what proceeded to happen after that, Altuve with the big grand slam, one could say that was the biggest play of the game.''

Altuve finished Sunday's game with four hits. He is batting .338 with two home runs, three doubles, eight RBI and 11 runs in 15 August games.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who sat out Saturday's game with a neck problem, returned to the lineup Sunday as expected. Altuve is hitting .333 with 45 steals and 61 runs scored in 113 games.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve isn't in the starting lineup Saturday while dealing with a neck issue, but he expects to return to the lineup Sunday, MLB.com reports.

"They just told me to sit the bench today, and I’m going to be ready to pinch-hit and pinch-run," Altuve said Saturday.

Altuve left Friday's game with neck discomfort.

Astros second baseman and leadoff hitter Jose Altuve is set to sit Saturday with a neck injury sustained Friday night.

Altuve leads the major leagues with 158 hits and ranks third with a .333 batting average.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was removed from Friday's game with neck discomfort, the team announced.

Altuve went 0 for 3 in the outing before coming out with the injury. He's day-to-day until more is known about the extent of the issue. Altuve has hit .333/.369/.434 with four home runs, 34 RBI and 45 stolen bases in 475 at-bats.

The Rays have assigned newly acquired infielder Nick Franklin to Triple-A Durham, according to the Tampa Tribune on Thursday. Franklin was included in the deal that sent David Price to Detroit just before the trade deadline. He had only nine homers in 279 at-bats at Triple-A Tacoma. 

The Marlins acquired pitcher Jarred Cosart, infielder Enrique Hernandez and outfielder Austin Wates from the Astros prior to Thursday's trade deadline, in exchange for a package of prospects that includes third baseman Colin Moran, outfielder Jake Marisnick and pitcher Francis Martes.

The deal came through just before the deadline, and likely includes a compensation pick going Houston's way, according to MLB.com. 

The Marlins have acquired infielder Enrique Hernandez from the Astros in a deal that just beat the trade deadline Thursday, according to numerous reports.

Hernandez appeared in 24 games for the Astros this season, hitting .284/.348/.420 in 81 at-bats. He was hitting .337/.380/.508 in Triple-A Oklahoma City this season as well.