MLB Player News

Mariners infielder Nick Franklin ended an 0-for-27 stretch emphatically Wednesday, as he tripled and drove in a run in his first at-bat. He ended the game 1 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored, in a 9-7 win. 

"It wasn’t really relief, but it was just nice to get started in the first inning, get going and get on top," Franklin told the Seattle Times. "I think more than anything, it was only the first inning, so I had three at-bats or more to worry about and adjust."

Franklin had received a pair of days off Sunday and Monday designed to clear his head, and he said those days did help him find his swing. 

"Honestly, the two days just made me itch to get back at it, more than anything," he said. "Those two days, I got to do some work and figure some things out"

Franklin is hitting .247 on the season with a .760 OPS in 227 at-bats. 

Mariners rookie second baseman Nick Franklin returned to the starting lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays after sitting two games. Unfortunately, the days off didn't help snap Franklin's hitting woes.

Franklin went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and is now hitless in his last five games (24 at-bats).

"You hope he comes right out of it, but you stick with him," Mariners acting manager Robby Thompson said, per The Seattle Times. "That’s part of the growing pains of a young player coming up is learning how to deal with the failure of it. You go into slumps, and you’ve got to fight your way out of it. This is where he’s got to maintain and keep grinding it out and stay positive.

"He’ll get it back soon. Until then, if he’s not getting hits, he should be out there taking hits away, or try to, anyway. You can’t just throw in the towel, which he’s not. But you still have to play the game. He’ll fight his way out of it."

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin is slumping and getting a night off Monday against Toronto, the Seattle Times reports. That afforded Dustin Ackley his first start at second since his recall from the minors in June. 

Franklin has gone just 9 for 49 (.184) over his last 11 games with three homers, eight RBI and 17 strikeouts over that stretch. 

Mariners rookie second baseman Nick Franklin has gone into a cold spell since homering twice July 28 against the Twins. Franklin has managed one hit in his last five games (25 at-bats) and has struck out 11 times in that span.

Franklin's average has plummeted from .277 to .250 during his recent five-game slide.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve doubled for his only hit in five at-bats in his return to the lineup Saturday. It was his first action in August due to a quad injury.

Altuve, who also struck out three times in his team's 6-4 loss to the Twins, has hit .283/.321/.362 with four home runs, 35 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 406 at-bats.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (quad) returned to action, as expected, Saturday at Minnesota.

Altuve, who last played July 31 at Baltimore, has gone 6 for 14 over a four-game hitting streak entering Saturday's game.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve missed his second game in a row Friday against the Twins, as he continues to be hampered by an injured left quad. He has missed three of the last five games as a result of this injury. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is not in the team's starting lineup Thursday against the Orioles.

Altuve is dealing with a left quad issue, and needed to miss a game. Altuve had left Saturday's game with quad soreness, but has been able to play the past two games. He's hitting .284/.323/.362 in 401 at-bats.

White Sox infielder Marcus Semien has been promoted to Triple-A Charlotte. 

Semien has been a standout offensive performer in the minors. He hit .290/.420/.483 in 393 at-bats at Double-A Birmingham. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve returned to action Tuesday in Baltimore after last Saturday's game with quad tightness and sitting out Sunday. 

Altuve hit second for the Astros and drove in two runs in the game. He went 2 for 4 with two singles and is batting .282 on the year.