MLB Player News

Beckham is starting at third base and batting leadoff in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Beckham will lead off for the first time all season as the Tigers give the struggling Jeimer Candelario a breather in the first game Saturday. The 32-year-old Beckham is slashing .245/.362/.531 with three home runs, four RBI and eight runs scored in 18 games this year.

Drury is not in the lineup Saturday for the second day in a row.

Drury had been seeing time in the outfield since Vladimir Guerrero joined the roster in late April, but he has now been withheld from those duties in four straight games and from the lineup altogether in two straight. With Drury hitting just .208 on the season, he could continue playing irregularly for the time being.

Chavis went 0-for-5 with an RBI and two strikeouts in Friday's 14-1 win over the Mariners.

Chavis has cooled off after an explosive debut. Since his two-home-run game May 4, Chavis has gone hitless in 19 plate appearances with seven strikeouts, three walks, one run and one RBI. This is the first test of adversity for the 23-year-old since being called up, so it will be interesting to see how he responds.

Torres' status for Saturday's game against the Rays is unclear after he was struck by a pitch on his right elbow Friday night, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Torres didn't come out of the ballgame after being drilled by a pitch in the eighth inning, but manager Aaron Boone may elect to give his second baseman the day off, depending on how the swelling looks Saturday morning. "I think it was a little emotional for him with what he's gone through with elbow stuff in the past," stated Boone.

Altuve has been diagnosed with left hamstring discomfort and is day-to-day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

This is relatively good news for the Astros, as it appears that Altuve escaped with a minor injury. He'll be monitored on a daily basis moving forward, though it's unlikely that Houston will rush the former MVP back into action before he's ready, especially this early in the year.

Altuve exited Friday's game against the Rangers after suffering an undisclosed injury, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Altuve appeared to suffer the injury after legging out an infield single, although the extent of the injury remains a mystery. He'll be considered day-to-day until the Astros provide on update on his status.

Drury isn't starting Friday's game against the White Sox.

Drury is in line for two consecutive days off after the team benefitted from a scheduled off day Thursday. Toronto will shift Randal Grichuk to right field, allowing for Jonathan Davis, who was just called up from Triple-A Buffalo, to get the start in center.

Double-A Akron activated Clement (oblique) from its 7-day injured list Thursday.

Clement had been sidelined since April 15 with the oblique injury but should slot back into an everyday role at shortstop for Akron now that he's overcome the issue. Clement spent time at Akron, High-A Lynchburg and Low-A Lake County in 2018, slashing .289/.358/.375 between the three levels.

Castro will start at second base and bat sixth Thursday against the Angels, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Castro has recorded just two hits in 12 at-bats since being promoted to the Tigers, but his defensive versatility will earn him his fourth start in the last five games. The 25-year-old saw his first two starts in the outfield, but he'll likely see most of his action in the middle infield moving forward with Christin Stewart (hamstring) healthy again and Jordy Mercer (quadriceps) joining Josh Harrison (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list.

Rodriguez will start at first base and bat fifth Thursday against the Angels, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez will draw his third start of the season at first base with the Tigers deploying Miguel Cabrera at designated hitter in the day game after the night game. Even when Cabrera resumes his usual duties at first base, Rodriguez seems likely to stick in the lineup at one of the two middle-infield spots for the foreseeable future with Jordy Mercer (quadriceps) joining Josh Harrison (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Rodriguez has already capitalized on the opportunity afforded to him by Harrison's absence with five multi-hit performances over his last seven starts.