MLB Player News

Kemp started at second base for a second straight game, going 0-for-2 and getting hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Cubs.

Kemp is in line for more playing time in the short term as Jose Altuve and Aledmys Diaz work their way back from hamstring injuries. Both injured players will be out at least one more week. It's an opportunity to get more consistent plate appearances for Kemp, who is batting .222 and has one hit over his last 15 at-bats.

Lopez went 2-for-5 with a triple, a run scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the White Sox.

The rookie had gone 0-for-17 over his prior four games, but Lopez snapped out of it emphatically with his first career three-bagger and his first RBI since his debut. His .237/.308/.322 slash line so far doesn't jump off the page, but the 24-year-old is getting a look in the leadoff spot, and his 6:11 BB:K through 14 big-league games suggests he might be able to handle the assignment.

Torres went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the Yankees' 7-0 win over the Padres on Wednesday.

It was the 14th long ball of the season for Torres, who touched up Adam Warren with a two-run shot in the seventh inning to help pad the lead for the Yankees. The young infielder is enjoying a fine start at the dish in his second MLB season, slashing .288/.330/.551 through 205 at-bats.

Castro was not called up by the Tigers on Tuesday despite the team needing a middle infielder as he recently tweaked his oblique, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Outfielder Victor Reyes wound up being the corresponding move when Josh Harrison (hamstring) landed on the injured list. Castro hasn't been placed on the injured list, so he could still get called up soon if the issue is determined to be minor.

Biggio (illness) remains out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.

Biggio remains a victim of the illness which has been sweeping the Blue Jays' clubhouse. He could be back in action Friday in Colorado following an off day Thursday. Eric Sogard gets another start at second base.

Drury got the start at shortstop and hit seventh in Tuesday's loss to the Rays, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

The 26-year-old had already seen action at third base (27 games), second base (10 games), right field (nine games) and left field (two games) this season, but Tuesday was his first time playing shortstop. Drury's defensive versatility gives him some value to the Jays, but his fantasy utility remains minimal -- he hasn't homered in May, slashing .221/.247/.309 through 19 games with seven RBI and eight runs.

Kemp started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-6 win over the Cubs.

Houston received a double-dose of bad news about its double-play combination Tuesday that could lead to consistent at-bats for Kemp. Jose Altuve (hamstring) suffered a setback in his rehab and Carlos Correa was scratched with an injury to his ribs that could cost him a couple of weeks. The top fill-in at both positions, Aledmys Diaz, is currently on the injured list with a hamstring injury. Jack Mayfield started at shortstop alongside Kemp at second base Tuesday. Manager AJ Hinch can also move first baseman Yuli Gurriel around the infield (second base, third base) and third baseman Alex Bregman to shortstop to cover the absence of his starting middle infield.

Mayfield started at shortstop in place of the injured Carlos Correa (ribs) and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-6 win over the Cubs.

Mayfield was called up to be a stop-gap at second base until Jose Altuve (hamstring) was ready to return, but Altuve's injury has lingered and Correa was scratched with an injury that is expected to keep him out a couple of weeks. That means Mayfield may stick around longer than the two games his stay was originally projected to last. With holes at second base and shortstop, Mayfield could get regular at-bats over the next 10-to-14 days.

Semien went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Angels.

Semien's solo shot came in the first inning, but the A's were unable to build an effective rally for much of the game, collecting just seven hits as a team. The shortstop is up to six homers, 24 RBI and 34 runs scored in 57 games this season.

Manager AJ Hinch said after Tuesday's win over the Cubs that the Astros received "encouraging" news on Altuve (hamstring), and that he will require time to "strengthen his lower half," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

General manager Jeff Luhnow said earlier Tuesday that Altuve's injury shouldn't impact him beyond the next couple weeks, but there's still a lack of specifics regarding his current return timeline. The 29-year-old appeared to be nearing his activation until he was sent home Tuesday from the rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock with right leg fatigue.