MLB Player News

Drury will start at third base and bat sixth Sunday against the Rays.

Drury will be rewarded with a fourth consecutive start after he starred in Saturday's 10-9 win in 12 innings. The veteran delivered perhaps his best performance of the season, going 4-for-6 with two home runs and three RBI in the come-from-behind victory. While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is locked in as the Jays' everyday third baseman, Drury's ability to play multiple infield and outfield spots could continue to allow him to see steady at-bats.

Semien went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Rangers.

Semien went yard in the third inning and then scored again when Matt Chapman launched a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Semien is 6-for-15 over his last four games, scoring six runs in that span. For the year, the shortstop has posted a .272/.353/.461 line with 16 homers, 51 RBI and 77 runs scored from his spot as the Athletics' usual leadoff man.

Biggio went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and two walks in Saturday's 10-9 win over the Rays.

Biggio cut the Tampa Bay lead to 6-2 in the second inning with a 429-foot shot to right-center off Andrew Kittredge. This was the 24-year-old's first homer since June 29, and he had been just 10-for-63 in July. He now has a .205/.345/.367 slash line with seven home runs over 166 at-bats.

Drury went 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBI and two runs scored as the Blue Jays scored a 10-9 comeback win Saturday over the Rays.

Drury drew the Blue Jays to 9-4 with his eighth-inning homer off Hunter Wood, and then connected off Colin Poche with two outs in the ninth inning to send the contest to extra innings. The 26-year-old utility man started out hot with five homers in April, but he then slumped with just one in May and June combined before hitting five more this month. He holds a .225/.268/.407 slash line over 275 at-bats this season.

Castro is out of the lineup Saturday against the Mariners.

It appears to be just a routine day off for Castro, who has recorded a .143 on-base percentage with nine strikeouts over his last six games. Gordon Beckham is starting at second base, batting ninth.

Semien went 2-for-4 with two runs in a loss to the Rangers on Friday.

Semien crossed the plate with the only pair of runs the Athletics were able to get on the scoreboard against Lance Lynn and three surprisingly effective relievers. The veteran shortstop has reached safely in seven of his last eight games, and he now sports a solid .348 on-base percentage during a month of July in which he's also racked up 12 extra-base hits (six doubles, two triples, four home runs).

Andrus isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Andrus is 0-for-8 at the dish over his last two contests, so he'll get the night off to regroup. Danny Santana will shift over to shortstop and bat third with Andrus out of the equation.

Lowe said his bruised shin "felt better" Friday than any day prior, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lowe, who resumed baseball activities Friday after a brief shutdown period, seems to have benefited from the pain-relieving shot he received earlier in the week. While this is an encouraging development for the second baseman, he remains without a timetable for his return. Look for Joey Wendle and Mike Brosseau to continue filling in at the keystone with Lowe sidelined.

Lopez is not in the lineup Friday against the Indians, Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City reports.

Lopez is slashing just .167/.189/.194 with just two extra-base hits (both doubles) and zero steals, so he'll head to the bench following a string of three straight starts. In his place, Whit Merrifield is covering the keystone and hitting leadoff.

Kemp was designated for assignment by the Astros on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros needed to free up a roster spot for Carlos Correa (rib), who was activated from the 60-day injured list Friday, and Kemp was the corresponding roster casualty. Houston will now have seven days to trade the 27-year-old or expose him to waivers. Prior to being dropped from the team's 40-man roster, Kemp slashed .227/.308/.417 with seven home runs and four stolen bases in 66 games.