MLB Player News

With his demotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Thursday, it's probably safe to drop Yangeris Solarte in all but the deepest of mixed leagues. Probably.

The reason I hedge is because I have my suspicions he'll be up playing regularly again for the Yankees this year.

Part of it is because he meets their need. Even if prospect Rob Refsnyder comes up and solidifies them at second base -- which is far from assured -- Kelly Johnson doesn't appear to have anything left at third base, having performed this season much like Solarte did in his last 37 games, or basically half the season so far.

And how did Solarte perform during that stretch that ultimately led to his demotion? Well, he didn't hit his best, batting .187 (23 for 123), but much of the damage came in his last 14 games, when he batted only .073 (3 for 41). Before then, he was hitting .299 with an .826 OPS, which are numbers any team would take from a second or third baseman.

One thing that never changed for Solarte was how infrequently he strikes out. A player who puts the ball in play seven out of every eight at-bats while demonstrating the extra-base pop he did will hit for average in the majors. I'm guessing he earns another opportunity within a month.

The Yankees announced Thursday they optioned infielder Yangervis Solarte to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After opening the season with a .336/.414/.521/.935 slash line in his first 34 games, Solarte posted a .187/.270/.268/.538 slash line in his last 37 games.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Mariners. Altuve was dealing with a swollen left elbow following Monday's game.

Altuve is batting .463 (31 for 67) with a .500 on-base percentage, .552 slugging percentage and 1.052 OPS in his last 17 games. He has 14 stolen bases in that span.

As expected, the Astros promoted outfielder Domingo Santana, infielder Enrique Hernandez and ptcher Kevin Chapman from Triple-A Oklahoma City Tuesday. All three players will be in uniform against the Mariners.

Rays infielder Logan Forsythe delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 12th inning Monday, sending Tampa Bay to a 4-3 win. He finished 2 for 5 with one walk and one strikeout.

Forsythe recorded his third straight multi-hit game and his sixth in his last 10 appearances. He is batting .457 (16 for 35) with one triple, two home runs, five RBI and five runs in his last 10 games. Forsythe hit his two homers over the weekend, as he homered in consecutive games Saturday and Sunday.

The Astros will promote infielder Enrique Hernandez and left-handed reliever Kevin Chapman from Triple-A Oklahoma City Tuesday, a source told MLB.com. 

Hernandez is batting .337 with a .380 on-base percentage, .506 slugging percentage and .887 OPS in 67 games at Triple-A. He has two triples, eight home runs, 17 doubles and 31 RBI.

Chapman is 1-1 with a 0.94 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 26 relief appearances for Oklahoma City. He also has two saves and 37 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 0 for 3 with a stolen bases in his team's 10-4 loss to the Mariners Monday.

Altuve was dealing with a swollen left elbow after the game, but he said the injury won't keep him from playing Tuesday, MLB.com reports. His stolen base gives him a steal in a franchise-record seven straight games. Altuve has hit .344/.385/.448 with two home runs, 26 RBI and 37 stolen bases in 337 at-bats.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 3 for 5 with two stolen bases in his team's 6-4 win over the Tigers Sunday.

It was the fourth straight game in which Altuve swiped two bases and the sixth straight in which he recorded at least one steal. He also has four straight multihit efforts as he attempts to put together a darkhorse MVP candidacy. Altuve has hit .347/.386/.452 with two home runs, 26 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 334 at-bats.

The number of RBI that Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe had in June heading into Saturday could be found in the middle of a donut. But Forsythe not only drove in two to help his team beat Baltimore, he managed his second three-hit performance in the last four games.

Forsythe began his big day with a two-run homer in the second inning and added two singles. He has 12 hits in his last eight games and has raised his average to .229, its highest point since April 2.

Astros infielder Jose Altuve added four more hits to his league-leading total Friday against the Tigers.

Altuve hit three singles and a double during the contest. He also stole two bases during the contest, including a steal of home in the fifth inning. Altuve finished 4 for 5, with two runs scored and one RBI. Altuve is hitting .342/.382/.446 over 325 at-bats.