MLB Player News

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus went 1 for 4 with a two-run home run in his team's 4-3 win over the Mariners Wednesday.

Andrus keyed a three-run first inning by deposting a pitch just over the left-field wall after the leadoff man got aboard. He has hit .249/.308/.345 with two home runs, 11 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 177 at-bats.

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham has not only maintained his progress after a bounce-back season in 2013, but he has become more productive.

Beckham is on pace to significantly better his run-scoring and RBI totals of a year ago and has improved his average to .277. He has been particularly hot in the last week. Beckham has 10 hits in his last 26 at-bats with one home run, four RBI and seven runs.

He has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, during which time he is 21 for 59.

Corey Hart's hamstring injury and consequent trip to the DL gives Nick Franklin something he hasn't had all season: an opportunity.

Even though he was one of the most impactful rookies in Fantasy last season, hitting 20 doubles and 12 home runs with six stolen bases in 369 at-bats, the Robinson Cano signing has confined Franklin to Triple-A Tacoma, where he's hit .376 with seven home runs in and six stolen bases in 109 at-bats.

He did have one brief stint in the majors earlier this season when the Mariners thought they could fit him in the lineup with Logan Morrison sidelined by a hamstring injury, but doing so would have required Hart to play the outfield, which they determined he wasn't ready to do. Now that Hart himself is down, freeing up the DH spot, Franklin should get his at-bats.

And if he makes the most of them and Brad Miller continues to struggle, the Mariners could keep Franklin around to play shortstop when Hart returns in 4-6 weeks.

The Royals have optioned second baseman Johnny Giavotella to the minors Tuesday.

Giavotella hit .176 over 34 at-bats in the majors. The club opted to call up Francisco Pena to take his place. 

Mariners utility player Nick Franklin will likely be called up Tuesday, according to ESPN 710.

Franklin is with the team in Texas, but there has been no official announcement about the move. Franklin is hitting .376 in 109 at-bats in Triple-A. It's unclear where he'll play in the majors. 

Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa was held out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Mets for just the second time in 32 games since Ryan Zimmerman suffered a fractured thumb on April 12.

Espinosa is mired in a 6-for-51 slump through 14 May games after batting .288 in April.

"I think it's pitch selection. That's all," manager Matt Williams said before Saturday's game, per MLB.com. "I think that he is chasing balls out of the strike zone. But he's fantastic at second base, and I want to put him in there as much as I can.

"The ebbs and flows of seasons are such that sometimes that's going to happen. The good thing about Danny is he's not taking it to the field, and that's good. He's excited, he's enthusiastic, he comes ready to play every day, wants to play every day, and there's no reason that first two, three weeks of the season can't come around, starting today."

Mariners utility player Nick Franklin could be promoted soon, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Franklin is dealing with a sore back, but could come up if it checks out. The move could reportedly come as early as Tuesday. It's unclear where Franklin would play if promoted. He has experience in the middle infield, but has been used as an outfielder in the minors this year. Franklin is hitting .376 in 109 Triple-A at-bats.

Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte continued his hot hitting Wednesday, in a 4-0 win over the Mets.

Solarte had just one hit in the win, but he made it count, homering for the second straight game. He was 1 for 3 with the solo home run, while adding an RBI, his fourth game in a row driving in a run.

Solarte has been the surprise of the season as a rookie, hitting .336/.414/.521 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 34 games.  

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham went 3 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 4-2 win over the A's Wednesday.

Beckham led off the game with the homer to left field, but he was answered with a home run by the opposition's leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first. Beckham continued to play well throughout the game and was on base when the team's decisive three-run home run was struck in the eighth. He has hit .266/.310/.418 with three home runs and seven RBI In 79 at-bats.

Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte continued his hot hitting Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with a walk, a solo home run and two runs scored in his team's 12-7 loss to the Mets.

Solarte has delivered multiple hits in each of his last three games while going 7 for 10 at the plate, and he's also the owner of an eight-game hitting streak. Tuesday's nice line gives him a .336/.412/.500 line with three home runs and 22 RBI in 116 at-bats.