MLB Player News

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus broke open a 1-all game with a two-run double in the seventh inning Wednesday against the Red Sox, sending Texas to a 3-2 win. Since May 3, Andrus is batting .279 (34 for 122) in his last 30 games, sending his average from .241 to .261.

Andrus also has a triple, four doubles, nine stolen bases, 10 walks, 12 RBI and 22 runs in his last 30 games. But he has yet to homer in 57 games this season.

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

Altuve has played in 56 games and doesn't often miss time. He's coming off a game in which he hit his third home run of the season. He'll be replaced by Marwin Gonzalez, who will hit ninth. 

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

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had his third home run of the season Wednesday against the Orioles. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Altuve took a Steve Johnson changeup to left field for a solo home run. Altuve added a single and scored two runs. He is hitting .297/.335/.397 in 232 at-bats.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham had an excellent game in Wednesday's wild 7-5 16-inning win in Seattle. 

Beckham finished the game 4 for 7 with a double, his first of the year, and his first two stolen bases. He scored a run and is batting .333. 

Beckham was recently activated from the disabled list and has five hits in his last two games and 11 on the year to this point. 

One of the reasons why I have had Jose Altuve ranked fourth among second basemen in Rotisserie formats is that I figured he would hit 10 or more homers to go along with 30-plus steals and a .300 batting average. The latter two marks are within reach, but Altuve has only two home runs after 55 games.

My hopes for Altuve to experience at least a minor power boost were based on his minor-league record, which showed that the Astros' 5-foot-5 two-hole hitter had surprising clout. His spray chart on TexasLeaguers.com shows that he still has the capability to hit the ball deep. With just a little more distance, Altuve would already be delivering on some of the promise he showed as a prospect.

Factor in a 25 percent line drive rate, and Altuve is already providing some evidence that he could be a sneaky source of extra-base power going forward.

With his promotion to the Nationals, Anthony Rendon is sure to draw plenty of interest from mixed-league owners because he should get regular starts at second baseman. That means that Nick Franklin is no longer the latest prospect to join the ranks at the position, but he's still widely available and no less valuable in Fantasy than Rendon.

Since the Mariners made Franklin their man at 2B, he has shown the same patient approach he displayed in the minors, averaging 4.0 pitches per plate appearance, and he's even had a two-homer game. Owners shouldn't expect more than moderate home run power from Franklin, but he can provide doubles along with a high batting average and on-base percentage. Although Rendon is probably the better bet for homers, Franklin has the better potential for steals.

Given Rendon's injury history and relative lack of professionial experience, I'd prefer Franklin as my second baseman in standard mixed leagues. He's still owned in only 53 percent of the leagues on CBSSports.com, so in those formats, you should still be able to get him.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve extended his hitting streak to six games Monday against the Angels. However, they have all been one-hit affairs, which has dropped his average from .306 to .296.

Altuve has been in a slump for several weeks. He has just three multi-hit games in his last 20 starts, batting .210 (17 for 18) in that span. His batting average was .345 before his recent 20-game slide.

"I don't worry about Jose Altuve because this guy can hit," manager Bo Porter said, per MLB.com. "Altuve can go 3-for-10 and it may be 1-for-3, 1-for-3, 1-for-4 and everyone will be like, 'What's wrong with Altuve?' Because we are used to him getting two hits per game. We also know he can go 12-for-15. It's all going to even out and at the end of the year, he's going to be near the top of the American League in hits and average."

The White Sox announced Monday second baseman Gordon Beckham was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list following a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. Beckham has been sidelined since mid-April following surgery on his left hand.

Beckham hit .333 (12 for 36) with five RBI and seven runs scored in eight games for Charlotte.

The White Sox are expected to reinstate second baseman Gordon Beckham from the 15-day disabled list Monday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Beckham played seven games in the majors before getting hurt. He is hitting .333 (12 for 36) with seven runs scored and five RBI in eight minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Charlotte.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura told MLB.com Saturday that second baseman Gordon Beckham could return "in the next week, if not sooner."

"It's up to him, really -- we'll welcome him any time," Ventura said. "It's just, when's the right time, does he feel he's ready to come up and ready to play? .. I let him know that I'm ready for him whenever he thinks he's ready."

Beckham is hitting .343 (11 for 32) with two doubles and four RBI in his rehab assignment. He has played just seven games with the White Sox this season.