MLB Player News

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin returned to the starting lineup Sunday at Cincinnati, The Seattle Times reports. Franklin did not start Saturday due to a bruised knee. 

Franklin did receive an at-bat during Saturday's game, however. He struck out in his only plate appearance. 

Mariners infielder Nick Franklin didn't start Saturday in Cincinnati due to a bruised knee, ESPN reports. Franklin fouled a ball off his knee Friday and is day to day. 

The 22-year-old, who is batting .290, has gone 5 for 19 (.263) to begin July with a homer and two RBI. 

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham made his first big-league appearance at shortstop Friday night against the Rays.

Beckham took over shortstop for Alexei Ramirez in the seventh inning. He singled in a run in the ninth inning and finished 2 for 4 with a run scored in an 8-3 defeat. He is hitting .328 with one homer and 10 RBI in 125 at-bats.

The Rangers dropped shortstop Elvis Andrus to eighth in the batting order Thursday, the first time he's batted in the bottom third of the order in more than three years.

"I just want to give him a little break and take a little pressure off him," manager Ron Washington told the Dallas Morning News Thursday. "He might be trying too hard. He’s pulling the ball a lot. Hopefully, he can relax and get back to being Elvis and doing what he does."

Andrus has hit .193/.259/.207 in his last 150 at-bats.

"I’m for sure not at my best right now," Andrus said Thursday. "There is just a little thing in my swing. I’m not seeing the ball really well right now. I’m usually the guy who lets the ball travel really deep. I know what I’m doing wrong."

White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham has been enjoying a resurgence at the plate this season, and he finally added his first home run of the season Wednesday against the Orioles. Beckham went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in a 4-2 loss.

Beckham is hitting .331 with a .784 OPS, and he has driven in nine runs in 118 at-bats.  

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham had three singles and one RBI Tuesday against the Orioles. It was his second three-hit game in his last five appearances.

Beckham has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He's batting .400 (12 for 30) with three runs, three doubles and five RBI in that span. Beckham's batting average has jumped from .298 to .325 in his last eight games.

Royals manager Ned Yost has made it apparent he's going to give Johnny Giavotella a fair shot to emerge as the team's regular second baseman. But he stressed it's up to Giavotella to earn his spot in the lineup.

"I want to give him a real look but, in order to have a real look, you've got to hit," Yost said Sunday, per MLB.com. "He's always hit in the minor leagues, so that always gives you a reason to believe."

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin was back in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs after missing the previous game with a neck injury. Franklin went 1 for 5, but managed to drive in two runs in a 7-6 loss. Franklin started the scoring with an RBI groundout in the third, then drove in another run in the fifth with an RBI single.

Franklin is hitting .295 and finished his first full month with a .296 average in 98 June at-bats. 

The Royals are expected to give Johnny Giavotella a chance to earn the everyday second base gig. He took a step in the right direction Sunday in Minnesota. 

Having just been recalled, Giavotella started Sunday and went 3 for 4 in the 9-8 win. He drove in two runs in his first game of the season for the Royals. He had an infield RBI single in the third inning and an RBI single in the fourth. 

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin returned to the starting lineup Sunday against the Cubs after not starting Saturday because of a stiff neck. Franklin came off the bench Saturday and played in the field for a few innings.

Franklin is batting .333 (21 for 63) with two home runs, six doubles, seven runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases in his last 16 games (15 starts).