MLB Player News

Semien went 3-for-6 with a solo homer, a double and an additional run scored in Thursday's 9-7 victory over Detroit.

Semien led off the afternoon with a homer off Kenta Maeda, his third longball of the year, before adding two more hits later in the contest as he wound up a triple shy of a cycle. The 33-year-old Semien has gotten off to another strong start this season while serving as Texas' primary leadoff man, slashing .286/.355/.464 with 17 RBI and 16 runs scored through his first 93 plate appearances.

Massey (back) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Anne Rogers reports.

Nick Loftin was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday and Massey is expected to be activated in a corresponding move ahead of the Royals' weekend series against the Orioles. Massey has been out all season with a lower-back injury but slashed .382/.417/.706 with two home runs in eight rehab games between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 26-year-old should share playing time at second base with Adam Frazier once activated.

The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

The transaction likely clears the way for infielder Michael Massey (back) to be activated from the 10-day injured list, but the Royals will wait until shortly before Friday's game against the Orioles before announcing a corresponding move. Loftin has slashed .276/.371/.276 over 13 games in a part-time role for Kansas City this season.

Altuve went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to Atlanta.

The veteran second baseman racked up his fifth multi-hit performance over the last seven games, a stretch in which Altuve is batting a blistering .467 (14-for-30). He was hardly cold before that though, and he's failed to collect a hit in only one of his first 20 games. On the season, Altuve is slashing .388/.462/.675 with five homers, two steals, seven RBI and 15 runs scored.

Drury won't start and will only be available to pinch hit Wednesday and Thursday against the Rays due to left hamstring tightness, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Drury may still be used as supplementary help with batting, but he will miss his third straight start come Thursday. Though his ability to still pinch hit if necessary is encouraging, the Angels are being cautious with the 31-year-old's hamstring issue, and it is still unknown if he will return to the field Friday against the Reds.

Drury (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Tampa Bay, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Drury will miss a second straight start with a hamstring issue. He declared himself available to play off the bench Tuesday, so it would seem fair to call Drury day-to-day. The Angels will deploy Luis Rengifo at second base and Nolan Schanuel at first base Wednesday.

Biggio is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

Biggio is in the midst of a nine-game hit streak during which he has a .902 OPS, but he'll take a seat Tuesday as lefty Carlos Rodon pitches for New York. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will shift to the keystone while Ernie Clement starts at third base.

Drury (hamstring) said he will be available off the bench Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Drury is not in the lineup after having to exit Monday's game with a hamstring issue. However, he tested out the hamstring with a pregame workout and contends that he's fine to play, if needed. Luis Rengifo is at second base Tuesday and Miguel Sano is at first.

Drury is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rays after exiting Monday's contest with a hamstring injury, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

It's unclear at this point whether it could potentially be a multi-game absence for Drury, who was lifted for a pinch runner Monday following his last plate appearance. For now, consider him day-to-day. Luis Rengifo is handling second base Tuesday.

Mead is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Angels.

Mead had started six of the last seven games, including three straight, at second base since Brandon Lowe (oblique) went down, but he will yield to Amed Rosario in this one. The 23-year-old Mead has managed just a .577 OPS this season and is still looking for his first RBI.