MLB Player News

Semien, who went 1-for-4 with a run and three strikeouts in a win over the Rangers on Wednesday, is now sporting a 31.5 percent strikeout rate across his first 54 plate appearances.

The leadoff hitter is typically responsible for setting the tone for a team's offense, and as such, it isn't surprising to see the Athletics have often struggled to score runs this season with Semien seeing a significant drop-off at the plate early. The veteran shortstop, who's due to hit the open market this coming offseason, has also seen a drop in walk rate from 11.6 percent to 3.7 percent and sports a pedestrian 25.7 percent hard contact rate after logging a 41.9 percent figure last season. There is no artificially low BABIP (.286) as a culprit either, as Semien is simply either swinging and missing or putting the ball in the air a lot more (51.4 percent flyball rate) than in previous seasons. Semien has hit safely in three of the past four games, but he still sports just a .130 average (3-for-24) in five August contests and hasn't left the yard yet this season after slugging a career-high 33 home runs in 2019.

Kemp is not in Thursday's lineup against the Rangers.

With southpaw Mike Minor on the hill for Texas, Kemp will head to the bench in favor of righty-hitting Chad Pinder. Kemp is 5-for-10 with three runs, two walks, two strikeouts and one steal in five games this month.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli clarified that Arraez was pulled from Thursday's lineup in what was intended to be a pre-planned maintenance day, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Though Arraez was listed as the Twins' No. 6 hitter and starting second baseman in the lineup the club initially released, Baldelli said he decided a night earlier that the 23-year-old wouldn't start in the series finale. Ehire Adrianza will instead join the starting nine as a replacement for Arraez, who should re-enter the lineup Friday in Kansas City. Arraez has gone 1-for-19 at the plate over his last six starts.

Espinal was optioned to Toronto's alternate training site Thursday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

He will remain on the taxi squad for the final four games of the road trip. Espinal served a role earlier in the season when Bo Bichette was banged up, but he has not played in a game since July 29.

Arroyo was designated for assignment Thursday.

The Indians needed to clear a 40-man roster spot for Delino DeShields, who was activated from the COVID-19 injured list. Arroyo also did not have any minor-league options remaining. He has made just one plate appearance so far this season for the big club and was clearly not in the team's short-term plans. It would not be surprising if a rebuilding club takes a chance on the former top-100 prospect.

Arraez was scratched from the lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Pirates for unspecified reasons.

The Twins haven't provided an explanation behind Arraez's removal from the starting nine, but Marwin Gonzalez will shift over from third base to cover Arraez's usual post at second base, while Ehire Adrianza gets the nod at the hot corner. Arraez has walked four times while striking out just three times on the season, but a .229 BABIP has saddled him with a .216 average over his 42 plate appearances.

The Yankees optioned Estrada to their alternate training site Thursday.

With all MLB teams having to reduce their active rosters from 30 to 28 men ahead of Thursday's games, Estrada, Miguel Andujar and Nick Nelson were the odd men out for the Yankees. Though he's been with the Yankees since Opening Day, Estrada appeared in just two of the team's 11 games, logging base hits in both of his at-bats.

Mendick started at second base and went 3-for-3 with a double in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Milwaukee.

Mendick posted a career-high three hits as a fill-in at second base. The White Sox placed starting second baseman Nick Madrigal on the 10-day injured list after the rookie injured his shoulder Tuesday while sliding into third base. Mendick is expected to be the primary fill-in while Madrigal mends. That could change when shortstop Tim Anderson (groin) returns, which will free up Leury Garcia to play second base.

Andrus went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a double in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Athletics.

Andrus doubled in the third inning and managed to steal third for his second stolen base of the season. The shortstop has struggled to a .193/.310/.250 line with two RBI and three runs scored in 10 games.

Chavis went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Wednesday against the Rays.

Chavis took Ryan Yarbrough deep in the sixth inning to stake the Red Sox to a 5-0 lead. It was his second long ball of the season. Chavis has struggled at the dish early on, as he's reached base in just seven of 26 plate appearances while striking out 39 percent of the time.