MLB Player News

Albies, 20, is batting .300 (15-for-50) with seven RBI and five steals through 11 games for Triple-A Gwinnett.

The acquisition of Brandon Phillips has temporarily blocked Albies, but that has not served as a deterrent for the 20-year-old middle infielder. He has the ability to hit .300 and swipe 30 bases, but Albies will likely spend the majority of the 2017 campaign at Triple-A, barring injury.

Frazier will start in left field and lead off in Monday's game against the Cardinals.

It's the third straight start for Frazier, who will be filling in for the injured Gregory Polanco (groin). The lefty-hitting Frazier has gone 5-for-9 with three extra-base hits and four RBI in the last two contests, and he could remain an appealing DFS play in the series opener with the Cardinals bringing right-hander Lance Lynn to the hill.

Frazier went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and a double in Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Cubs.

The three-hit outing for Frazier boosted his average to .343 in 35 at-bats to begin the season. He was starting in left field while Gregory Polanco nurses a groin injury. The 25-year-old super-utility player for the Bucs makes a lot of contact but doesn't have a ton of power. Perhaps his greatest fantasy asset to those in deep mixed and NL-only leagues is his positional versatility, as he's able to play the majority of the infield positions as well as the outfield. If a serious injury hits any of the Pittsburgh starters, Frazier is likely to be the biggest beneficiary of playing time.

Espinosa went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Royals.

The three-strikeout performance drops Espinosa's average to just .200 on the season. Three of his nine hits on the year have been home runs, and he's been fortunate to have 12 RBI in 13 games. The soon-to-be 30-year-old has an ugly line of 17 strikeouts to just one walk. His owners will have to live with his high strikeout rate and low batting average in order to utilize his pop at the keystone.

Forsythe (hamstring) is available as a pinch hitter Sunday and is expected to return to the starting lineup Monday, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports.

Forsythe was held out of Sunday's lineup after exiting Saturday's contest early due to hamstring tightness, but his availability off the bench is a good sign. Look for him to return to action in Monday's series finale against the Diamondbacks, sending Chase Utley back to the bench.

Andrus will start at shortstop and bat second in the order Sunday against the Mariners, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Manager Jeff Banister has been using Andrus in the No. 2 hole against opposing lefties lately, but in recognition of the veteran's excellent contributions at the plate of late, the Rangers skipper will move Andrus up in the batting order Sunday against Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma. The struggling Shin-Soo Choo, meanwhile, slots lower in the lineup to make room for Andrus.

Forsythe (hamstring) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports.

Forsythe had to exit Saturday's game due to hamstring tightness, and after testing it out Sunday morning, it was determined that he would not be able to make the start. That being said, the veteran is said to potentially be available as a pinch-hit option, suggesting this ailment won't be a long-term concern. In the meantime, Chase Utley will get the starting nod at second base.

Semien (wrist) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday.

Semien underwent an MRI on his ailing right wrist Saturday, and although he was diagnosed with merely a contusion, the Athletics ordered a CT scan Monday to further investigate the issue. While it's possible those scans won't reveal any new information, the Athletics will err on the side of caution and shelve Semien for at least the next week and a half in order to avoid an aggravation. Chad Pinder was recalled from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move and is expected to share duties at shortstop with Adam Rosales for the duration of Semien's absence.

Franklin will start at second base and bat in the leadoff spot Sunday against the Reds.

Jonathan Villar is out of the lineup for the first time all season. Not only will Franklin man the keystone in his stead, but the 26-year-old will also assume Villar's usual duties as the team's table-setter. In his lone other start back on April 8 against the Cubs, Franklin delivered a two-run homer.

Motter went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and a walk during a 5-0 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Motter stepped up with two men on in the sixth inning and blew the game open with a 404-foot shot to left. He has been swinging the bat well over the last four games, going 7-for-15 with two homers, five RBI and three runs scored. Motter is as hot as anyone on the team at the moment and will seemingly maintain a role even after Jean Segura (hamstring) returns to action next week.