MLB Player News

White Sox infielder Marcus Semien played the role of offensive hero Thursday against Oakland in a game with virtually no offense.

Semien blasted off to left in the sixth inning to provide the lone run in the game and give teammate Chris Sale the victory. He has hit safely in five of his last six games.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in his team's 5-2 win over the Mariners Wednesday.

Altuve racked up his 200th hit of the season in the game, making him just the second player in franchise history to reach 200 hits (Craig Biggio). He's third in the majors with 41 doubles and also third in the majors with 52 stolen bases while mainting a large lead on the hits leaderboard. Altuve has hit .336/.373/.447 with seven home runs and 51 RBI in 595 at-bats.

Astros infielder Jose Altuve drove in two Saturday against the Athletics.

Altuve stepped to the plate with two men on in the sixth inning. He delivered, hitting a two-run double to left. It was his only hit of the night. He finished 1 for 4, with two RBI.

The White Sox purchased the contract of outfielder Michael Taylor from Triple-A Charlotte Tuesday, one of seven roster moves made as part of September roster expansion.

The team also announced the recall of pitchers Chris Bassitt, Scott Carroll and Eric Surkam, outfielder Jordan Danks, catcher Josh Phegley and infielder Marcus Semien . 

The Royals announced a slew of roster moves on Monday. The team selected the contracts of outfielder Carlos Peguero and left-hander Brandon Finnegan and recalled infielder Johnny Giavotella, catcher Francisco Pena, outfielder Lane Adams and right-hander Casey Coleman from the minors.

Additionally, Kansas City designated pitchers Chris Dwyer and Blake Wood for assignment. The Royals also reinstated first baseman Eric Hosmer from the disabled list.

The Angels got a boost from newly acquired infielder Gordon Beckham Wednesday, in a 6-1 win over the Marlins.

Beckham slugged a solo home run in the fourth inning and added an RBI groundout in the eighth, ultimately finishing the game 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored.  

Beckham had been hitless in his previous seven at-bats since joining the Angels, and is hitting just .219/.262/.339 in 401 at-bats overall. 

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.