MLB Player News

The yo-yo season of Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien continued Wednesday night. And the yo-yo is definitely on the rise.

Semien managed his sixth multi-hit performance in the last eight games despite a loss to the Angels. But this one was a bit different - it marked the first time this year he slugged three hits.

He doubled in the first, doubled and scored in the fourth and singled in the sixth to give him 12 hits in his last 29 at-bats.

Semien began the season on a tear, then fell into a 3-for-24 slump before recovering.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve continues his strong performance at the plate this season, going 2 for 4 at the plate in Houston's 7-2 win over the Padres Wednesday.

It marked Altuve's seventh consecutive game with multiple hits, something manager A.J. Hinch is getting accustomed to, reports MLB.com.

"There's more than just a hitter," Hinch said. "He senses opportunity. When you need a sac fly, he gets a sac fly. When you need a spark, a leadoff runner, he gets on base. And he does it in different ways. You can't pitch him the same way twice. I think I get a better appreciation at how dangerous he can be line to line.

"He gets his fair share of hits in different ways. When we roll the lineup around, I think our whole dugout senses something is going to happen positively. He continues to pile on the hits. The big moments don't scare him. The big moments, meaning a guy on third base and nobody out. A good pitcher that gets him out, he comes back for more. He's a real threat."

Altuve is hitting .355 with six doubles and 13 RBI in 93 at-bats this season.

Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar is out of the starting lineup again Wednesday with Danny Espinosa taking over the spot, the team announced.

Escobar suffered a hand injury in Monday's game with cuts on his hand when Andrelton Simmons slid into his glove trying to reach third base. Espinosa, who has played second for the majority of the year, will move to third with Dan Uggla drawing another start at second.

Manager Matt Williams said that Escobar is available in an emergency situation, as he was for Tuesday's game. He expects the infielder will be ready to return to his regular role Thursday, the Washington Post reports.

The Nationals are currently the favorites (-110) against Atlanta.

Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien totaled two singles in four at-bats Tuesday against the Angels for his eighth multihit game this season. He also had one run and one stolen base.

Semien is batting .360 (9 for 25) over his last six games following a 3-for-24 slump from April 14-21. He also has one double, one home run, three RBI, three runs and two stolen bases in his last six games.

Padres second baseman Yangervis Solarte has back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time this season, courtesy of a two-hit performance in a Tuesday loss to Houston.

Solarte singled in a run in the first and added another single and two walks. He has five hits in the last two games combined in raising his average from .283 to .346. with a surprising 12 RBI and fine .414 on-base percentage.

Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday due to right wrist tendinitis and a right forearm strain, the team announced.

To take his spot on the roster, the Yankees recalled infielder Gregorio Petit from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Jose Altuve went 4 for 6 in the Astros' thumping of the Padres on Tuesday.

Altuve is now 14 for his last 30 (.467 avg.).

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's contest against San Francisco after MRI revealed a torn right oblique, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"It's a bad tear," Crawford said.

Crawford suffered the injury during Monday's game against the Giants. Manager Don Mattingly did not issue a concrete timetable for his return, but said he'd be surprised if his stint on the DL lasted only 15 days. He is hitting .245/.260/.408 with one home run, three RBI and one stolen base in 49 at-bats.

The team recalled Kike Hernandez from Triple-A, and will start in center field, while Alex Guerrero moved to left field in place of Crawford.

Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe is back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees with Tim Beckham sliding to designated hitter and Brandon Guyer moving to the bench, the team announced per the Tampa Bay Times.

Forsythe got the day off Monday with Beckham moving to second. He is hitting .262 with two home runs in 61 at-bats this season. Guyer had started the last four games in a row before getting Tuesday off.

The Yankees recalled pitcher Chase Whitley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. To clear a roster spot, infielder Gregorio Petit was optioned to Triple-A.