MLB Player News

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. 

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien hit his sixth home run of the season in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the Red Sox. 

Semien finished the game 3 for 5 and also hit his first triple of the season. He hit a single and would have hit the cycle if he hit a double. Semien now has 15 RBI this season. 

Semien now has three home runs in his past three games. 

With Billy Burns receiving the night off in favor of Sam Fuld, the Athletics moved Coco Crisp to the leadoff spot and Marcus Semien to the No. 2 hole Tuesday night against Boston, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Semien is hitting .295/.340/.810 with five home runs on the season.

Oakland is considered a home favorite (-120) against the Red Sox, per VegasInsider.com.

Rays infielder Nick Franklin is getting closer and closer to returning to the majors. Manager Kevin Cash is hearing good things on Franklin and his rehab, according to MLB.com.

"He's playing well," Cash said. "He's recovering well. He'll ramp up his schedule. More back-to-back days playing. We'll definitely have some decisions to make on the roster the next couple of weeks."

Franklin is currently on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain after suffering the injury in spring training.

Athletics left fielder Coco Crisp is in the lineup and batting second in Monday's game against the Red Sox, bumping shortstop Marcus Semien to the No. 8 spot.

Crisp has led off in each of his three starts since coming off the disabled list but is 0 for 15 at the plate. Semien became a fixture in the second spot in late April and early May and also filled that role over the weekend, but he'll move back to the No. 8 spot for Monday's matchup.

The Athletics are favorites (-118) at home against the Red Sox, per VegasInsider.com.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has hit just .222/.283/.286 with one home run, eight RBI and four stolen bases in 126 at-bats, and much of his offensive issues can be traced back to his work against right-handed pitchers.

Andrus has taken advantage of a high .394 BABIP to post a .333/.391/.476 line against southpaws, but he's hit just .167/.228/.190 in 84 at-bats against righties to torpedo his overall numbers. On the positive side, the shortstop is finding an alternate way to get on base in May while struggling at the plate, as he's managed to draw eight of his 11 walks this season this month. A more selective Andurs in the batter's box could be a precursor to an offensive rebound.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien went 3 for 4 at the plate in Oakland's 4-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday.

Semien was the only player for Oakland to find success against Seattle's ace Felix Hernandez. Semien ripped a solo home run in the third inning before matching his success in the sixth with a second solo shot, his fifth of the season.

He is just the fifth player ever to have multiple home runs in a game against Hernandez.

"His at-bats are terrific," said A's manager Bob Melvin to MLB.com. "Hits two home runs off a guy that just doesn't give up many."

Semien is now hitting .307 with 14 RBI in 127 at-bats this season.