MLB Player News

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had three hits and three stolen bases in a loss to the Brewers Wednesday.

Altuve went 3 for 4, all singles, and scored Houston's only run in a 3-1 loss. He stole third base and second twice and has 16 steals to go with a .295 batting average. 

The 23-year-old has seven stolen bases in his last seven games. 

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin extended his hitting streak to seven games Tuesday against the Angels with a 1-for-4 performance. Franklin is batting .370 (10 for 27) with one home run, one stolen base, three doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs in his last seven games.

Franklin's batting average has gone from .250 to .296 during his recent seven-game surge.

The Nationals have reinstated second baseman Danny Espinosa from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, The Washington Times reports.

Espinosa has been at Syracuse for six games on a rehab assignment, in which he has hit a brutal .118/.238/.118. Espinosa has been dealing with a fractured right wrist for much of the season. General manager Mike Rizzo previously said Espinosa needs to "show what he's capable of," and so he'll have to start hitting at Syracuse if he is to get a chance to unseat Anthony Rendon at second base in Washington.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus sat out for the second time in seven games Tuesday against the Athletics, but it gave him time to assess his offensive struggles. Since a five-hit performance May 18 against the Tigers, Andrus is batting .171 (18 for 105) in his last 26 games, dropping his average to .241.

"I just need to stay back on the ball," Andrus said, per ESPN, "And use my hands."

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is not in lineup Tuesday against the Athletics.

Andrus will be replaced by Jurickson Profar, who will hit second against Jarrod Parker. With Ian Kinsler back, the team will be able to give Andrus a few more days of rest, as it can rotate middle infielders. Andrus is hitting .241/.294/.287 in 282 at-bats.

Padres second baseman Logan Forsythe totaled a season-high three hits Monday against the Giants. He also had his first double.

Forsythe entered play Monday with two hits in his previous five games and four hits in his first six games. He's now batting .292 (7 for 24).

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa (wrist) continues to make progress during his minor-league rehab assignment, meaning the team could soon be forced to make a roster decision. But Anthony Rendon's emergence at second base makes it a tougher than expected decision for the Nationals, who expected Espinosa to resume his duties at second base once healthy.

"Now that Danny is healthy he needs to go ahead and show what he is capable of doing," manager Davey Johnson said Monday, per The Washington Post. "He certainly has the talent to do it. What Rendon is doing doesn’t have any bearing on what he is doing. He needs to get comfortable on both sides of the dish and do the things he is capable of doing. I know he is handling it defensively. Is he in a good frame of mind? Is he getting in a good groove left and right? And not worry about anything other than that.”

General manager Mike Rizzo said previously Espinosa, who hit .158 prior to going on the DL, could end up in the minors once he's ready to return and it's becoming a real possibility thanks to Rendon, who is batting .344 in 18 games.

"I don’t think there’s a better defensive second baseman in the league than Danny Espinosa," Johnson said. "But the one thing we want is Danny to be comfortable on both sides of the dish. And when he does that, he could be All-Star. It’s that simple."

White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham managed multiple hits for a second straight game Sunday against the Astros and for the fourth time since coming off the disabled list June 3. Beckham, who missed nearly two months because of a hand injury, is batting .341 (15 for 44) with two RBI, two stolen bases, three doubles, three walks and six runs in 12 games since his activation.

Playing in just his fourth game since coming off the disabled list, Padres second baseman Logan Forsythe continued his hot hitting Friday against Arizona. 

Forsythe's single to center in the sixth inning of the game drove in both San Diego runs scored in the 2-1 victory. The No. 7 batter went 1 for 3 with the two RBI and is hitting .333 to this point. 

Forsythe has opened the season 4 for 12 with two runs scored, a homer and five RBI. 

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa told The Washington Post he felt fine after starting his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse Thursday.

Espinosa played three innings and finished 1 for 2 with a run and strikeout while batting right-handed in his rehab opener.

"He's a tough guy," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "I don't think these injuries will set him back. I think he just needs to get his timing down and start feeling good about himself from the left and the right side."