MLB Player News

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin went deep in the third inning of Friday's game against Oakland. Franklin took starter Bartolo Colon yard for a three-run shot.

Franklin finished 1 for 4 in the game with three RBI and is batting .277.

The 22-year-old has at least one base hit in nine of his last 10 games and has gone 12 for 39 (.308) over that stretch with two homers and seven RBI.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said a move to the leadoff spot May 18 has been the primary cause of Elvis Andrus' extended slump, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Andrus had five hits in his first game as a leadoff hitter, bated .189 with a .265 on-base percentage while batting leadoff, through June 15. Even a move down to the No. 2 spot has not been able to stop his slide, as his overall batting average since that five-hit game is just .170, ranking him 99th out of 100 hitters in the American League with at least 90 plate-appearances.

"He wanted to be the igniter," Washington said. "He started taking pitches and all of a sudden he’s down 0-1, 0-2. And then he’s just fighting to stay alive. He dug himself a hole, but I think the shovels are gone now."

Andrus has seen the majority of his time in the No. 2 spot in his career, putting up a .692 OPS in 1,462 at-bats, but that number is down to .570 in 184 at-bats this season.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had three hits and three stolen bases in a loss to the Brewers Wednesday.

Altuve went 3 for 4, all singles, and scored Houston's only run in a 3-1 loss. He stole third base and second twice and has 16 steals to go with a .295 batting average. 

The 23-year-old has seven stolen bases in his last seven games. 

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin extended his hitting streak to seven games Tuesday against the Angels with a 1-for-4 performance. Franklin is batting .370 (10 for 27) with one home run, one stolen base, three doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs in his last seven games.

Franklin's batting average has gone from .250 to .296 during his recent seven-game surge.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus sat out for the second time in seven games Tuesday against the Athletics, but it gave him time to assess his offensive struggles. Since a five-hit performance May 18 against the Tigers, Andrus is batting .171 (18 for 105) in his last 26 games, dropping his average to .241.

"I just need to stay back on the ball," Andrus said, per ESPN, "And use my hands."

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is not in lineup Tuesday against the Athletics.

Andrus will be replaced by Jurickson Profar, who will hit second against Jarrod Parker. With Ian Kinsler back, the team will be able to give Andrus a few more days of rest, as it can rotate middle infielders. Andrus is hitting .241/.294/.287 in 282 at-bats.

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.