MLB Player News

Manager Dusty Baker said that Altuve (knee) "looked good" while running Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve was placed on the injured list with a right knee sprain over the weekend, but he was reportedly feeling better Monday. A timetable for his return hasn't been established yet, but he appears to be making positive progress early in his recovery.

Semien (side) is starting Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Astros.

Semien missed four consecutive games with a side injury, but he feels well enough to return to the lineup for Tuesday's matinee. The 29-year-old is hitting .229 with five home runs and 12 RBI this year.

Chavis is getting his first big-league start in left field while hitting seventh in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

With Andrew Benintendi (ribs) done for the season and the Red Sox lacking notable outfield depth, getting Chavis some starts in left field will allow them to get a look at other young players like Christian Arroyo, who is staring at second base in Game 1. Chavis is hitting .389 with zero home runs and one steal in 18 at-bats during a modest five-game hitting streak.

Arroyo's contract was selected by Boston on Tuesday and he is starting at second base while batting ninth in Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Phillies, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Cleveland designated Arroyo for assignment in early August and the Red Sox claimed him off waivers. Boston then booted him off the 40-man roster in late August, but he remained with the organization. With Michael Chavis starting in left field, there could be playing time available for Arroyo at second base over the final three weeks of the season.

Andrus started at shortstop and went 0-for-4 in Monday's 8-4 loss to the Mariners.

Andrus returned to the lineup after sitting out two games but the results were the same. Manager Chris Woodward said Andrus, who has a .510 OPS, is no longer an everyday starter, so expect to see more of Anderson Tejeda and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop through the end of the season.

Semien (side) could return to the lineup for one of the Athletics' two games Tuesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Manager Bob Melvin said that if Semien feels good, he will return to the lineup after missing over a week of action. Complicating matters a bit is the fact that Oakland plays a doubleheader Tuesday, so it's unclear for which of the contests Melvin would place Semien back in the lineup.

Altuve (knee) is feeling better but has yet to resume baseball activities, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Altuve left Thursday's game against the Rangers with right knee discomfort and landed on the injured list Saturday, so it's not as if he's been shut down for a particularly long period. It's not yet clear whether or not he'll need more than a minimum-length stay on the injured list.

Semien (side) is expected to return at some point during the Athletics' series against the Astros, which ends Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Semien has already been out for over a week with side soreness, though he was never placed on the injured list. It remains unclear precisely when he'll return, but there's no reason for Oakland to move him to the injured list at this point.

Semien (side) remains on the bench as expected Monday against Houston.

Semien has avoided a trip to the injured list with side soreness, though may as well have been removed from the roster, as he's now sidelined for the ninth straight day. He's expected to take batting practice Monday and could return to the lineup soon, though when exactly that will happen remains to be seen. Vimael Machin will be the shortstop Monday.

Merrifield will start at second base and will bat leadoff Monday against the Indians, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

Merrifield has hit out of the leadoff spot in all 42 of the Royals' games this season, and he doesn't look on track to lose out on that job even though he's currently in the midst of his roughest stretch of the campaign. Over the past seven contests, Merrifield has gone 1-for-30, dropping his season average from .296 to .248 over that stretch.