MLB Player News

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham managed multiple hits for a second straight game Sunday against the Astros and for the fourth time since coming off the disabled list June 3. Beckham, who missed nearly two months because of a hand injury, is batting .341 (15 for 44) with two RBI, two stolen bases, three doubles, three walks and six runs in 12 games since his activation.

The Rangers gave shortstop Elvis Andrus the game off Wednesday against Cleveland, ESPN reports. Jurickson Profar led off and started at short for the Rangers. 

Andrus has struggled over his last five games at the plate. He has gone 4 for 22 (.182) over that stretch with four strikeouts, no extra-base hits and just one RBI. He does have two steals over his last five games and 16 on the year. 

Andrus is batting .254 this year with 22 RBI and 36 runs scored. 

Astros manager Bo Porter shuffled his lineup Tuesday against the Mariners, dropping catcher Jason Castro down to the No. 2 spot, hitting second baseman Jose Altuve third and first baseman Carlos Pena at cleanup.

"Carlos has been swinging the bat well," Porter said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "More so I'm trying to protect Carlos and Castro and putting Altuve in between them so if they want to bring in a lefty they still have to [face] Altuve before they get to Carlos."

The Mariners gave rookie second baseman Nick Franklin a rest Monday against Houston. Franklin went 0 for 4 Sunday against the Yankees. 

Franklin has seen 44 at-bats for his career to this point. He's gone 11 for 44 (.250) with two home runs and three RBI. The two homers came in the same game. He's gone 4 for 20 (.200) over his last five contests.

Mariners rookie second baseman Nick Franklin moved into the second spot in the lineup Sunday against the Yankees for the first time in his career. Franklin is batting .275 (11 for 40) with a .500 slugging percentage in 12 games.

"I’ve been debating about it," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said about batting Franklin second, per The Seattle Times. "We’re thin as it is and he’s been putting together as good at-bats as anybody. He’s not shy, so I think that probably works for him. I’m trying to put the best lineup out there."

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve returned from a slight groin strain that caused him to miss two games to go 1 for 4 with one RBI in Saturday's game against the Royals.

Altuve picked right up where he left off, as the sixth-inning single extended his hitting streak to nine games. He owns a .297 batting average in 236 at-bats.

The Astros got back the services of second baseman Jose Altuve (groin) Saturday in Kansas City. Altuve missed two games with a slight groin strain. 

Batting .297 on the season with three homers and 22 RBI, Altuve is on an eight-game hitting streak in which he's gone 9 for 36 (.250) with one homer and one RBI. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was out of the lineup for the second day in a row Friday, as he continues to deal with a slight groin strain. 

According to the team's radio analyst, Altuve could have played Friday, but the team is being careful with him. He will likely return to the starting lineup Saturday. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve missed Thursday's game with a groin injury, and is hoping to return Saturday, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

Altuve is likely to miss Friday's game, though it's unclear if he'll be available to pinch hit. He would be eligible to return Saturday against Royals starter Ervin Santana. 

Altuve is hitting .297/.335/.397 in 232 at-bats this season. 

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has a slight groin issue, which is why he's not in the team's lineup Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle. 

Altuve is expected to return Friday against Royals starter James Shields. Marwin Gonzalez will replace Altuve at second and hit ninth Thursday.